Two persons were killed in West Bengal's Murshidabad district following violent clashes allegedly linked to ongoing protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, an IPS officer said on Saturday.
The victims -- a father and son -- were found with multiple stab wounds inside their home in Jafrabad, located in the violence-hit Samserganj area.
The officer confirmed that post-mortem examinations had been conducted on the duo.
"Both victims were discovered lying inside their home and were declared brought dead at a nearby hospital," he said.
Family members alleged that miscreants looted the house and fatally stabbed the two before fleeing.
"A probe is on and we are trying to identify those involved in the killings. We have spoken to other members of the family and local residents," the officer added.
In a separate incident, another person sustained a bullet injury earlier in the day at Dhulian in Samserganj block.
The officer said police conducted patrolling and route marches in and around the affected areas to maintain law and order.
Sources in the district administration said the victim, a bidi factory worker, was shot while on his way to work.
"The person is stable and is being treated at Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital, where he was shifted from Jangipur Hospital," the officer confirmed.
Meanwhile, the Calcutta high court has ordered deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in West Bengal's Murshidabad district.
Stating that it cannot keep its eyes closed when such situations come up, the high court said citizens must be provided with adequate security and protection to ensure peace and order in the region.
A division bench, presided over by Justice Soumen Sen, ordered deployment of CAPF in the affected areas of Murshidabad to assist in restoring normalcy.
The central forces will operate in coordination with the state administration.
The court also instructed both the state government and the Centre to submit detailed reports on the situation.
The matter is scheduled for further hearing on April 17.
A special bench comprising Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Chowdhury was constituted by the Chief Justice to urgently hear a petition filed by Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, seeking the deployment of central forces in the district.
Seven companies of BSF have been deployed in strife-hit Suti, Dhuliyan and Samserganj areas of Murshidabad, the state lawyer told the court.
Adhikari's lawyer, however, alleged that the BSF personnel were not being deployed properly to control the situation.
The bench heard the petition on a court holiday on Saturday considering the urgency of the situation.
On Friday, 15 policemen were injured during clashes in various parts of Murshidabad district, Additional Director General (Law and Order) Jawed Shamim said.
So far, police have arrested 118 people in connection with the violence that erupted during the protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act, Shamim said, adding that the number would rise.
Police reportedly fired four rounds to bring the mob under control.
Large-scale violence was reported from Suti and Samserganj areas during demonstrations over the controversial Act.
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