NIA takes over Beldanga violence probe amid Amit Shah’s Bengal visit

The investigation into the violent unrest in the Beldanga area of Murshidabad district has been handed over to the National Investigation Agency (NIA). The decision comes amid Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to West Bengal, coinciding with heightened focus on law and order in the state following the January violence.

The violence erupted after the death of a migrant worker in Jharkhand triggered widespread protests in Beldanga. Demonstrators blocked railway tracks and a national highway for several hours, severely disrupting movement. During the agitation, protesters allegedly attacked police personnel and media persons, escalating the situation. Unrest continued into the following day, bringing traffic on the national highway to a complete standstill. Police later resorted to a lathi charge to disperse the crowd and clear the blockade, restoring normalcy after prolonged disruption in the region.

So far, 36 people have been arrested in connection with the violence. Among those taken into custody is a leader of the Hyderabad-based minority political party All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM). The arrests were made based on analysis of viral social media videos and CCTV footage. The NIA is now expected to examine the larger conspiracy angle and the sequence of events leading to the unrest.