NIA Probes Bengal Violence After Migrant Worker Death Triggers Protests
NIA takes over probe into Murshidabad violence over migrant worker's death in Jharkhand.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially taken over the investigation into the recent violent unrest in Beldanga, Murshidabad district, triggered by the death of a migrant worker from West Bengal in neighboring Jharkhand. The unrest, which occurred earlier this month, led to clashes between protesters and police, with significant disruption to transport and public order.
The move comes on a day when Union Home Minister Amit Shah is scheduled to attend a series of workers’ meetings in Barrackpore and Siliguri, signaling heightened central attention on the situation. According to sources, the NIA will probe the incidents of rioting, attacks on police personnel and media representatives, and the role of political actors in inciting violence.
Violent protests erupted in Beldanga on January 16 following the migrant worker’s death, with demonstrators blocking railway tracks and the national highway for hours. The unrest continued for a second day, prompting police to resort to lathi-charge to restore law and order. A total of 36 individuals, including a leader of the AIMIM party, were arrested based on social media evidence and CCTV footage.
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The NIA’s intervention follows a Public Interest Litigation filed at the Calcutta High Court by Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, demanding both central police deployment and an NIA investigation. A Division Bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen approved the NIA probe and directed the state government to deploy Central Armed Police Force (CAPF) personnel until complete normalcy is restored. Additional CAPF units can be deployed if necessary.
The court also instructed the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police of Murshidabad to submit affidavits within 15 days, detailing measures taken to ensure the safety of citizens and public property. The NIA probe is expected to uncover the circumstances surrounding the violence and hold accountable those responsible for inciting unrest in the district.
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