The Calcutta High Court on Saturday ordered the deployment of central forces in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, where protests against the Waqf Act turned violent.
The court's order came after BJP leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari sought the deployment of central forces in the Muslim-majority district bordering Bangladesh.
Murshidabad has been tense since April 8 as protests against the recently-enacted Waqf Act turned violent as protesters clashed with the police.
On Friday, fresh violence broke out during protests against the new law. Two people - a father and his son - were hacked to death by a frenzied mob during the unrest, which continued on Saturday. Over 110 people have been arrested so far, with police raids continuing across multiple locations.
Amid the violent protests, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee announced that the Waqf Act will not be enforced in the state, while the BJP has targeted the Trinamool Congress over the violence, also holding counter-protests.
Banerjee also appealed for calm and said the Waqf law was enacted by the Centre, and that questions should be directed to them.
"My sincere appeal to people of all religions, please remain calm, remain restrained. Do not engage in any irreligious behaviour in the name of religion. Every human life is precious; do not incite riots for the sake of politics," she tweeted.
On Friday, widespread violence erupted across Malda, Murshidabad, South 24 Parganas and Hooghly districts during protests against the new legislation. Several vehicles, including police vans, were set ablaze, stones were thrown at security forces, and roads were blocked.
Authorities said the situation is now under control, with the Border Security Force (BSF) assisting state police in maintaining order. A large contingent of security personnel has been deployed in sensitive areas, particularly around Jangipur, which the centre of violence.
The BJP slammed the Trinamool Congress government, urging it to seek assistance from the Centre if it was "incapable" of handling the law and order situation. Adhikari described the unrest as a "premeditated act of violence, an assault on democracy and governance by Jihadist forces", rather than a protest.
Adhikari also wrote to Union Minister Ashwini Vaishnaw, demanding that the investigation be handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which probes terrorism-related cases.