Fresh unrest in Murshidabad, police resort to baton charge to disperse mobs

Fresh unrest was reported at Beldanga in Murshidabad district on Saturday (January 17, 2026) as locals blocked National Highway 12. Hundreds of locals gathered on the highway at Barua More in Beldanga, bringing traffic on NH-12 to a standstill and triggering long queues of stranded vehicles. 

Protesters also damaged a railway gate and attempted to disrupt train services along the Sealdah Lalgola railway section of Eastern Railway.

After a few hours of blockade, the police swung into action and used force to disperse the mob and lift the blockade. Large number of police personnel led by the District Police Superintendent conducted route marches to disperse the mob.

“There were some blockades where we had to resort to baton charge and have cleared everything. Situation is normal, shops are open,” Kumar Sunny Raj, Superintendent of Police, Murshidabad told media persons. The SP said that about 15 to 20 have picked up for violence over the past two days.

Violence had erupted in Beldanga on Friday (January 16, 2026) following the death of 36-year-old Alauddin Sheikh, migrant worker from the area who was killed in Jharkhand. The situation was brought under control five hours after Murshidabad District Magistrate and senior officials tried to pacify the agitated mob.

A female journalist of a vernacular television news channel sustained injuries in the violence on Friday (January 16, 2026). The SP said attempts are being made to identify the perpetrators who attacked the journalist based on CCTV footage. On Saturday (January 17, 2026) another journalist of a television news channel was assaulted.

More than 12 people have sustained injuries in the violence over the past two days. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra at a press conference highlighted an assault on the female journalist at Beldanga and said that media persons should stand in solidarity with the assaulted media person.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said on Friday (January 16, 2026) that migrant workers are being targeted in other States and the “anger of the minorities was justified”. Ms. Banerjee said that she does not support such violence but everything is not in her hands.