The Calcutta High Court’s order came in the context of two public interest litigations (PILs) filed in the court last week. File | Photo credit: The Hindu
Expressing concern over repeated incidents of violence and unrest in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday (January 20, 2026) directed the police and state administration to ensure that peace is maintained there.
The order came in the wake of two public interest litigations (PILs) filed in the court last week — one by Leader of Opposition in West Bengal Assembly Suvenda Adhikari and another by a local resident of Beldanga.
Mr. Adhikari welcomed the Supreme Court’s intervention in the Beldanga violence. “In an application filed by me in connection with the Beldanga riots, Hon’ble Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Hon’ble Justice Partha Sarathi Sen today ordered the deployment of five companies of Border Security Force available in Beldanga and their full utilization by the state,” Mr. Adhikari said.
This is related to the use of central forces already present in the area, which were deployed after the communal riots in Murshidabad in early 2025.
The court also directed the Superintendent of Police and the District Magistrate of Murshidabad to take necessary steps to stop further violence in the area and ensure peace.
Mr. Adhikari also asked the National Investigation Agency to probe the violence, which the court said would be decided after analyzing the state government’s report on the matter.
Violence erupted in Beldanga in Murshidabad on January 16 over the death of a migrant worker who hailed from the area in the neighboring state of Jharkhand. A large number of people took to the streets by blocking the railway lines and the national highway for several hours.
At least 12 people were injured in the clashes and around 30 people were arrested by local police for inciting violence. Several media persons were also attacked and injured in the clashes.
Leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) blamed the other party for the violence and started kicking it. While BJP leaders said the violence was communal in nature, the TMC said certain opposition factions were inciting people to violence.
Published – 20 Jan 2026 20:49 IST
