Unrest was reported from Beldanga in Murshidabad district for the second day on Saturday after hundreds of people blocked the Barua crossing, alleging that another migrant worker from the district was assaulted in Bihar.
According to police, 30 people have been arrested for attempting to incite violence, while police have also filed a suo motu case regarding the assault on journalists, and four individuals have been arrested in connection with that incident, including the “mastermind” Matiur Rahman. He is primarily accused of leading the attacks on journalists, but was also present during the violence in Beldanga on Saturday.
The protesters vandalised the railway gate near Beldanga station and destroyed the railway signalling system, disrupting train services for the second consecutive day, with services currently suspended between Krishnanagar and Lalgola.
Milind K Deouskar, General Manager, Eastern Railway, said that additional RPF forces are being deployed to manage the situation.
Meanwhile, police had to resort to a lathi-charge to disperse the crowd. In the afternoon, police said they were compelled to use force for “justifiable” reasons.
The Superintendent of Police said that while Friday’s incident was driven by “sentiment”, Saturday’s vandalism was “entirely pre-planned”.
“From uprooting railway signal posts to attacking government buses, there was a conspiracy to spread chaos in every instance. We share a very good relationship with the media. We rely on you for our work. But I have a humble request: please be cautious when working in volatile situations. Prioritize your safety while performing your duties,” he added.
The unrest in Beldanga began on Friday morning, after the body of Alauddin Sheikh, 30, a resident of Sujapur Kumarpur gram panchayat in Murshidabad, was brought to his native village from Jharkhand. Protesters claimed that Sheikh was killed in a gruesome manner in the neighbouring state.
Demanding immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of the culprits, protesters blocked NH-12 and the railway tracks for nearly five and a half hours, causing immense suffering to thousands of passengers. Traffic kiosks were vandalised, police vehicles were damaged, and at least 12 people were injured in stone-pelting.
Several journalists, including a woman journalist, were also injured.
The incident has triggered a political uproar in the state. Shatarup Ghosh, CPI(M) state committee member, said, “The law and order situation of Bengal has failed. Yesterday, instead of condemning the assault on journalists, CM Mamata Banerjee blamed them, questioning why they went there. The same people vandalising properties and involved in arson will work for the TMC three months later… The CM has no intent to control the situation.”
Leader of Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari wrote to Governor CV Ananda Bose seeking promulgation of prohibitory orders to control the situation.
” I am deeply concerned and outraged by the ongoing communal violence in Beldanga; …….Over the last 48 hours, rioters have unleashed terror, vandalizing properties and even assaulting Journalists of Zee 24 Ghanta and ABP Ananda who were simply reporting the truth. This is a direct assault on Democracy and the Rule of Law. What shocks me the most is the utter inaction of the State Administration. No prohibitory orders under Section 163 BNSS have been issued, and the situation is spiraling out of control. Remembering the horrific riots in Murshidabad last year, where lives were lost, I cannot stand by silently,” he wrote on X.
“Today, as the Leader of the Opposition, I have written an urgent letter to His Excellency the Governor of West Bengal; Dr. C V Ananda Bose, appealing for immediate promulgation of prohibitory orders and deployment of Central Paramilitary Forces to restore peace and protect lives. The Hon’ble Calcutta High Court’s directive from 2025 clearly mandates such action in similar situations, and it must be enforced now.
I urge the Hon’ble Governor to intervene without further hesitation and direct the State to act decisively,” he added.
Meanwhile, MP Abhishek Banerjee, National General Secretary, TMC, who is in Berhampore, Murshidabad, for a public rally, said, “Yesterday (Friday), as soon as I came to know about Alauddin Sheikh’s death, I spoke to Jharkhand CM Hemant Soren, and he has assured me of taking necessary action. Do not fall prey to any provocation. Bengal CM has announced Rs 2 lakh financial assistance for the family of the deceased, and Alauddin Sheikh’s wife has been given a govt job.”
“When I heard about Beldanga violence, many within my party and others advised me against holding the roadshow and meeting on Saturday. But we went ahead, as the incident was incited by the BJP and a gaddar (traitor). My not holding a meeting today would have given oxygen to such elements. I want to appeal and urge you all – whatever happened yesterday, including the attack on journalists – no one from the TMC endorses it. I have requested the administration to take strict action and punish the perpetrators behind the attack. The real face of the traitor, who is working as a BJP agent, will be out soon in front of the public.”
Meanwhile, TMC Spokesperson Aroop Chakraborty said, “Humayun Kabir and the BJP are in jugalbandi (cahoots) to keep Beldanga and Murshidabad disturbed… A son of the soil was killed for talking in Bengali in another state. Won’t there be anger in people? However, violence cannot be justified. This violence is being mobilised and channelised by the BJP.”