War zone Beldanga: Highway blocked, reporters attacked in migrant death protests

National Highway-12 was blocked, vehicles were vandalised and journalists were attacked as a mob disrupted normal life, raising fresh concerns over law and order in the region.

Two journalists of ABP Ananda were assaulted while covering the unrest after police struggled to bring the situation under control. A day earlier, a woman journalist and her photographer from Zee 24 Ghanta were also attacked in Beldanga, which has virtually turned into a conflict zone.

Police and the Rapid Action Force were later deployed in large numbers on Saturday afternoon, and authorities resorted to lathicharge to disperse the crowd and restore order.

Tension has gripped the area since the death of local migrant worker Alauddin (Alai) Sheikh, whose body was found hanging in his rented room in Jharkhand.

While Jharkhand police initially termed it a case of suicide, the family and local residents allege he was beaten to death and the scene was staged as suicide. They claim he may have been targeted for being a migrant worker from Bengal.

Protesters blocked train services by squatting on railway tracks, causing major disruptions. Demonstrators demanded strict action against those responsible for the death, compensation for the victim’s family, and assurances regarding the safety of migrant workers from Murshidabad.

Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee condemned the violence and appealed for peace, accusing the BJP of attempting to provoke unrest ahead of elections.

The protests underscore growing anxieties over the safety of migrant labourers from Bengal in other states and reflect the deepening political polarisation in the run-up to the 2026 West Bengal Assembly polls.