Kolkata, January 18, 2026:
Armed West Bengal Police personnel, assisted by the Rapid Action Force (RAF), carried out route marches in violence-hit Beldanga in Murshidabad district on Sunday as authorities tightened security following two days of unrest.

While the situation remained calm, the town presented a deserted look, with shops shut and roads largely empty after repeated incidents of road and rail blockades, stone pelting, and attacks on journalists.

Murshidabad Superintendent of Police Kumar Sunny Raj personally monitored the security arrangements as police patrolled main roads, bylanes, and nearby villages. Officials said strict vigil was being maintained to prevent any gathering or flare-up.

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What Triggered the Violence

The violence erupted on Friday during protests over the alleged unnatural death of a migrant worker in Jharkhand. The victim’s family claimed he was killed by miscreants for speaking in Bengali.

Protesters blocked roads and railway tracks, damaged vehicles, and assaulted a television journalist covering the agitation.

On Saturday, fresh violence broke out after reports of another alleged attack on a migrant labourer from Murshidabad in Bihar, leading to renewed blockades, stone pelting, and the assault of another TV reporter.

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Arrests and Investigation

• 30 people have been arrested across the district in connection with the violence
• Four arrests relate specifically to attacks on journalists
• Police used CCTV footage and social media monitoring to identify suspects

Police identified Matiur Rahman as the prime accused, alleging he incited crowds and provoked violence over both days.

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Political Angle

Suspended TMC leader and Janata Unnayan Party chairman Humayun Kabir confirmed that Rahman is a local resident but did not clarify his political affiliation.

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