Bengal Unrest: 30 Arrested In Murshidabad Over Migrant Worker’s Death In Jharkhand

Tension continued to grip Beldanga in West Bengal's Murshidabad district for the second consecutive day following protests over the alleged killing of a Bengali migrant worker in Jharkhand. Demonstrations led to road and rail blockades, disrupting traffic and train services across the region.

According to the police, 30 people have been arrested so far, and further raids are underway in connection with the violence. Security forces were deployed in large numbers as protesters took to the streets demanding justice.

Why the Protests Broke Out

The unrest was triggered by the death of 37-year-old Alauddin Sheikh, a hawker whose body was found hanging at his residence in Jharkhand on Thursday. His family alleged that he was beaten to death and targeted because he was a Bengali-speaking migrant worker.

To protest the alleged murder, villagers brought his body to National Highway 12 in Beldanga and blocked the road for nearly five hours. Tyres were set on fire, and traffic between north and south Bengal came to a complete halt.

Highway and Rail Services Hit

NH-12, a key route connecting Bengal with the northeastern states, remained blocked as hundreds of locals gathered at Barua More in Beldanga. Long queues of stranded vehicles were reported on both sides of the highway.

Protesters also blocked railway tracks and damaged a railway gate, leading to the temporary suspension of train services in the Sealdah railway division. The disruption came on the same day Prime Minister Narendra Modi flagged off the country's first Vande Bharat Sleeper Train, adding to the impact of the blockade.

Police later resorted to baton charges at some locations to disperse the crowd after initial attempts to control the situation failed, reports said.

Journalists Attacked During Coverage

The protests turned violent on Friday, with four to five journalists, including women reporters, allegedly assaulted while covering the unrest. Several media personnel were taken to hospital for treatment.

Reacting to the attacks, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed concern but said controlling such situations was difficult. "I am not supporting attacks on journalists, but they should avoid going inside a mob. It is out of my hands," she said.

Political Reactions Escalate

The incident also drew sharp political reactions. BJP MP and party spokesperson Sambit Patra criticised the state government, questioning the breakdown of law and order.

He said that blocking highways and railway tracks was unacceptable and raised concerns over the safety of journalists. "A journalist was attacked so badly that she had to be hospitalised. Today it is her, tomorrow it could be anyone," he said.

Meanwhile, thousands of Trinamool Congress (TMC) workers gathered in Berhampore to attend a meeting addressed by party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee, where slogans were raised in support of the party amid the ongoing tensions.

Police Action Continues

An Additional Superintendent of Police confirmed that arrests have been made and more action is expected. Authorities said they are closely monitoring the situation to prevent further violence and restore normal movement on roads and railways.

As investigations continue into the migrant worker's death, Beldanga remains under tight security, with officials urging people to maintain peace.