Fresh Unrest Grips Beldanga for Second Consecutive Day
Fresh unrest has erupted in Beldanga, located in West Bengal's Murshidabad district. The situation remains tense as hundreds of local residents continue their protest for the second day running.
Protesters have blocked the crucial Barua railway crossing in Beldanga. They are expressing anger over reports that another migrant worker from their district faced assault in Bihar.
Railway Infrastructure Targeted, Services Halted
The demonstrators did not stop at the blockade. They turned violent, vandalizing the railway gate near Beldanga station. The railway signalling system also suffered significant damage during the protest.
This destruction has led to a major disruption in train services. Services remain suspended between Krishnanagar and Lalgola for the second day in a row. Thousands of passengers are facing immense hardship due to this suspension.
Authorities Respond with Increased Security
Milind K Deouskar, the General Manager of Eastern Railway, confirmed the deployment of additional Railway Protection Force personnel. Their primary task is to manage the volatile situation and restore order.
A large contingent of state police has also been stationed in Beldanga. This move follows the renewed tensions and aims to prevent further escalation of violence.
Origins of the Protest: A Tragic Death
The current unrest traces its roots back to Friday morning. The body of Alauddin Sheikh, a 30-year-old resident of Sujapur Kumarpur gram panchayat, was brought home from Jharkhand.
Protesters claim Sheikh was killed in a gruesome manner in the neighbouring state. This incident sparked immediate outrage among the local population.
Friday's Violence: Highways Blocked, Injuries Reported
On Friday, demonstrators blocked NH-12 and railway tracks for nearly five and a half hours. Their key demand was the immediate arrest and exemplary punishment of those responsible for Sheikh's death.
The protest turned violent. Traffic kiosks were vandalized, and police vehicles sustained damage. Stone-pelting incidents left at least twelve people injured.
Several journalists covering the event also got caught in the violence. A woman journalist was among those injured during the clashes.
Political Storm Erupts Over Law and Order
The incident has triggered a significant political uproar across West Bengal. Opposition leaders are criticizing the state government's handling of the situation.
Shatarup Ghosh, a CPI(M) state committee member, launched a sharp attack. He stated, "The law and order situation of Bengal has failed completely. Yesterday, instead of condemning the assault on journalists, the Chief Minister blamed the journalists themselves, questioning why they went there. The same people vandalizing properties today will likely work for the TMC in three months. The CM shows no real intent to control this situation."
TMC Counters, Points Finger at BJP
The ruling Trinamool Congress has firmly rejected these allegations. Party spokesperson Aroop Chakraborty presented a different narrative.
Chakraborty said, "Humayun Kabir and the BJP are working in cahoots to keep Beldanga and Murshidabad in a state of perpetual disturbance. A son of the soil was killed merely for speaking Bengali in another state. Is it any surprise that people are angry? However, we must be clear that violence can never be justified. This current wave of violence is being actively mobilized and channelized by the BJP for their own political gains."
The blame game continues as the people of Beldanga endure a second day of chaos and disrupted livelihoods.
