Fresh Violence Rocks Beldanga Over Migrant Worker Assault
Beldanga in Murshidabad district witnessed another wave of violent protests on Saturday. The unrest erupted over the brutal assault of a 22-year-old migrant worker in Bihar. This incident follows closely on the heels of protests that shook the town just a day earlier.
Assault Sparks Public Fury
The victim, Anisur Rahman, returned to his home in Beldanga on Friday. He arrived with severe injuries after being attacked in Bihar's Majhyampur area. Rahman is currently receiving medical treatment at Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital.
"A group of people kicked me and beat me with sticks after checking my ID in Bihar on Friday," Rahman stated. He explained that he somehow managed to make the difficult journey back home despite his injuries.
This assault occurred only one day after protests had already rocked Beldanga. Those earlier demonstrations were triggered by the death of 34-year-old Alauddin Sheikh in Jharkhand's Daltonganj.
Violent Protests and Blockades
The fresh protests began around 9 am on Saturday. A group of people blocked National Highway 12 at Burwan, demanding punishment for those who assaulted Rahman. The number of protesters swelled significantly after 9:30 am.
Within just thirty minutes, the demonstrators expanded their blockade. They shut down the Panchraha More railway gate, effectively cutting off both road and rail traffic.
Protesters engaged in multiple acts of vandalism and violence:
- They set tyres on fire along the highway
- Protesters squatted on railway tracks
- Multiple trucks were vandalized
- A bus was pelted with stones, injuring five passengers
- A divider was broken at the railway gate
- Bricks were thrown at stranded trucks
Laltu Dey, the driver of the attacked bus, described the terrifying scene. "I left the driver's seat to hide when I saw them coming with bricks," he said. "Five passengers were injured and have been taken to a local hospital. The bus's windows were completely broken."
Police Response and Detentions
Police initially attempted to negotiate with the protesters. They managed to clear NH-12 briefly after about an hour of talks. However, the protesters quickly regrouped and resumed their blockade.
As the situation escalated, police resorted to stronger measures. They used tear gas and conducted lathi charges at multiple locations. The police action occurred first at Burwan More and later at Panchraha More railway gate.
Murshidabad SP Kumar Sunny Raj explained the police response. "Protesters weren't ready to negotiate," he said. "They threw stones and bricks at trucks and on a bus, which is why we were compelled to lathi charge."
Police detained twenty-two people for allegedly leading the violent protests. Beldanga SDPO Uttam Garai and SP Raj arrived at the scene with RAF companies as the violence intensified.
Journalist Injuries and Political Response
A journalist named Partha Pratim Ghosh sustained injuries during the protests. In a related development, police arrested four people on Saturday for attacking a female journalist during Friday's protests. That journalist remains hospitalized with injuries to her hands and legs.
SP Raj identified Matiur Rahman as the main accused in inciting the public over the past two days. Police are currently checking footage from the incident sites.
Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee addressed the situation. He announced that a party delegation would visit Beldanga to assess the situation firsthand.
"Our party seniors will visit Alauddin Sheikh's family," Banerjee stated in Behrampore. "As per instructions of CM Mamata Banerjee, the district administration has extended financial help of Rs 2 lakh. It has been decided that his wife will get a government job."
Administrative Actions and Concerns
West Bengal's chief electoral officer Manoj Agarwal has sought a detailed report on the repeated incidents of violence in Beldanga. The administration has acknowledged the problems faced by migrant workers in the region.
"Problems faced by migrant workers have been taken up by the administration," SP Raj confirmed. The recent violence highlights ongoing tensions surrounding the treatment of migrant workers from the region.
