The Calcutta High Court is set to hear two Public Interest Litigations (PILs) on Tuesday. These petitions demand the deployment of Central forces in Beldanga, a town in West Bengal's Murshidabad district currently reeling from violence.
PILs Filed by BJP and Local Resident
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) filed one of the PILs. A local resident of Beldanga filed the other. Both petitioners have cited a precedent. In 2025, the Calcutta High Court intervened during violence in Murshidabad and ordered the deployment of Central forces. They are now requesting a similar order for Beldanga.
Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen have approved the filing of these PILs. The court is likely to hear the matter on Tuesday.
Violence Erupts Over Migrant Worker's Death
The unrest in Beldanga began on Friday morning. It started after the body of a 30-year-old man, Alauddin Sheikh, was brought to his native village in Sujapur Kumarpur gram panchayat from Jharkhand. Protesters claimed Sheikh was killed in a gruesome manner in the neighbouring state.
Demanding immediate arrest and exemplary punishment for the culprits, protesters blocked National Highway 12 and railway tracks for nearly five and a half hours. During the protests, traffic kiosks were vandalised and police vehicles were damaged. At least twelve people sustained injuries in incidents of stone pelting.
Unrest Continues for Second Day
Violence was reported from Beldanga for a second consecutive day on Saturday. Hundreds of people blocked the Barua crossing. They alleged that another migrant worker from the district was assaulted in Bihar.
In response to the escalating situation, the West Bengal police have taken action. They have arrested thirty people for allegedly attempting to incite violence. The police have also filed a suo motu case regarding the alleged assault on journalists covering the events.
Precedent from 2025 Violence
This is not the first time the Calcutta High Court has been approached for such intervention. In April 2025, a special bench of the court ordered the immediate deployment of Central forces in Murshidabad district. This order came after widespread violence, vandalism, and arson erupted in the area following the Waqf (Amendment) Act 2025.
The 2025 petition was filed by the Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari. He alleged unrest in several parts of the state. The bench of Justices Soumen Sen and Raja Basu Choudhury heard the case. They not only ordered the deployment but also stated that the direction should not be limited to Murshidabad alone.
The court had clarified that wherever similar situations arise in other districts, Central forces might be deployed immediately to control the situation and restore normalcy. The bench further directed that the Central forces must operate in coordination with the state administration.
During the 2025 clashes in Murshidabad, at least three people lost their lives. Over 138 individuals were arrested in connection with that violence.
The current PILs seek to invoke this precedent to bring Central forces into Beldanga. The aim is to quell the ongoing unrest and prevent further escalation. The Calcutta High Court's decision on Tuesday will be closely watched.
