Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday appealed for peace and requested all communities to not get provoked amid the violent anti-Waqf Act protests that claimed three lives and led at least 500 Hindus to flee the Muslim-dominated Mushidabad district.

Speaking at the inauguration of Kalighat Skywalk in Kolkata, Mamata sent a message of secularism and appealed to people to not take laws into their own hands.

She said, "We visit all kinds of places but whenever I visit a certain event, I am criticised and even my surname is altered. Who are these people to do such acts? No one should play dirty games in the name of religion. Religion means respect, love, humanity, peace, relief, culture, harmony and unity. Nothing can be a greater religion than love for people.

"We are born as well as die alone so what are these riots for? Everything can be conquered through love but not through isolation. We stand in solidarity with anyone who is attacked. Everyone has the right to peaceful protests with permission but no one should take law into their own hands. Do not get provoked and fall into the trap."

After Murshidabad, fresh violence hits Bengal's South 24 Parganas

After days of tension in Murshidabad, fresh violence erupted at Bhangar in West Bengal's South 24 Parganas on Monday during a protest against the Centre's Waqf (Amendment) Act.

Viral videos on social media showed police motorbikes were torched, and a police bus was overturned with its windshield ripped out.

A large contingent of police marched on the streets to contain violence.

The cops had to use a lathi-charge to disperse protesters, at least one of whom was also injured.

A senior cop confirmed to the media that some police personnel were injured in the clashes.

The ISF, meanwhile, pointed to Mamata's claim - that her government would not implement the new Waqf laws - and asked why then its protest had been halted.

The Indian Secular Front (ISF) supporters, moving towards the Ramlila Maidan in central Kolkata to attend an anti-Waqf law rally to be addressed by party leader Naushad Siddique, resorted to violence after the cops denied permission for the rally.

According to reports, the protesters clashed with the police, leading to injuries and the arson of police vehicles.

Siddique has, meanwhile, called the new law "an attack on Muslims and assault on the Constitution".

Tension escalated when the crowd attempted to break through the barricades.

A senior cop told the media that some police personnel were injured in the clashes, and eyewitnesses said the cops held a lathi-charge to disperse protesters, at least one of whom was also injured.

The ISF pointed to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's claim that her government would not implement the new Waqf laws and asked why then its protest had been halted.

Anti-Waqf violence in Murshidabad

The fresh tension comes after massive violence in the Muslim-dominated Murshidabad district, in which three people were killed, railway tracks were blocked, and there was arson and vandalism.

Over 200 people have been arrested in connection with that violence so far.

Attacked by marauding mobs, Hindus from villages fled in boats and via roads to the adjacent district of Malda as Islamic violence claimed three lives and destroyed properties.

West Bengal Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari on Monday demanded a probe into the Islamic violence and riots that hit the Murshidabad district, causing three deaths, by the National Investigation Agency (NIA).

West Bengal Police have now said that the situation is under control, and prohibitory orders are in place to prevent large gatherings.

Videos from ferry ghats showed hordes of Hindu families, including women, children and elderly, fleeing to the safety of the Malda district.