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Suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) MLA Humayun Kabir on Wednesday laid the foundation bricks of a proposed ‘Babri’ mosque in Murshidabad, even as he issued a fresh call for a mass protest against the district police.

Kabir, who founded the Janata Unnayan Party (JUP) after his suspension from the TMC, addressed supporters at the construction site in Chetiani field and announced that he would lead a siege of the Murshidabad Superintendent of Police’s office on February 14. His remarks came a day after he alleged that the SP had hired a contract killer to target him.

“I will not give any notice. On the 14th, between 11 am and 1 pm, the SP office will be surrounded. I will take one lakh people with me,” Kabir said.

People from different parts of the district and beyond began gathering at the venue early in the morning. The proposed mosque is to be built on around 11 bighas of land. Construction materials, including bricks, cement, sand and steel rods, have already been stockpiled at the site. Organisers claimed that donations amounting to several crores of rupees have been collected for the project.

Also read: Suspended TMC MLA Humayun Kabir floats new party

 

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Work on the structure began on Wednesday, with Kabir stating that it would take approximately two years to complete. Continuing his attack on the police administration, he told supporters, “Allah is on my side. No one will be able to do anything by conspiring.”

Police sources estimated the crowd at over 50,000 people. Heavy deployment was made in and around the venue to prevent any untoward incident. As a precautionary measure, the movement of goods-laden trucks on the national highway was halted from 9 am.

Murshidabad Superintendent of Police Dhritiman Sarkar said trucks were parked along the highway near Berhampur and confirmed that no major incident occurred during the gathering.

The development comes ahead of the Assembly elections, with the Election Commission expected to begin the schedule announcement process in the first week of March. Murshidabad, regarded as politically significant, has witnessed rising tensions in recent months amid allegations and counter-allegations.

Kabir’s move to lay the foundation appears aimed at consolidating his political position before the polls, with critics accusing him of seeking to mobilise minority voters.