'Women are very scared', NCW chief reaches Kolkata amid protests in Bengal; will meet Murshidabad violence victims

Protests are being held against the Waqf Amendment Act in West Bengal's Murshidabad district. Vijaya Rahatkar reached Kolkata on Thursday evening to lead the investigation into the recent violence in Murshidabad following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Meanwhile, National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Vijaya Rahatkar has stated the situation there. She has said - atrocities have been committed against women in protest against the Waqf Amendment Act.

'Atrocities were committed against women'

The NCW chief further said - "We have come to know from media reports that atrocities have been committed against women (in violence-affected areas of West Bengal in protest against the Waqf Amendment Act) and women are also scared."

'Will take stock of the situation'

Vijaya Rahatkar said - We will go to the spot to see the situation. We have reports, but we will go there and talk to the women because atrocities against women are not accepted and such things should not happen.

'We will go to Malda and Murshidabad'

Vijaya Rahatkar, while speaking to reporters, further said, 'Women are very scared after the communal violence that broke out here...NCW has taken cognizance of it and we have formed an inquiry committee...I am also part of the inquiry committee. In the next three days, we will visit the violence-affected areas. We will go to Malda and Murshidabad. We will meet the affected women there and talk to them.'

She said that the purpose of her visit is to boost the morale of women who have been hurt by the communal unrest.

Statement by another NHRC member

In a post on X on Thursday, NHRC member Priyank Kanungo has also given a statement. He said- A team of NHRC officials will visit the refugee camp in Malda, West Bengal tomorrow. The visit is taking place in the wake of the violence that broke out on April 11 during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, which resulted in the death of three people, injuries to several others, and extensive property damage.