The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday directed the West Bengal Government to deploy Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) in Murshidabad district’s Beldanga area following last week’s violent unrest, expressing concern over the “repeated incidents and recurrence of violence” in the region.
A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Partha Sarathi Sen observed that the life, liberty and dignity of citizens in Beldanga and Murshidabad was under threat, necessitating immediate intervention. “In our considered view, the repeated incidents and recurrence of violence in the said district is certainly worrisome. Immediate and effective measures are required to ensure life, liberty, dignity and property of citizens in the said district, including Beldanga,” the Court stated.
The unrest erupted last week after the body of a migrant worker, allegedly murdered in Jharkhand, was brought to his native village in Murshidabad. Protestors blocked National Highway 12, damaged public property including a passenger bus and municipal vehicle, and attacked a news reporter and cameraman. Police registered four FIRs and arrested at least 30 people in connection with the violence.
The Court’s directions came on an application filed by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader and Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari in an already pending Public Interest Litigation relating to earlier violence in Murshidabad. Adhikari sought deployment of central forces and a National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe into the incident.
Senior Advocate Billwadal Bhattacharyya, representing Adhikari, alleged that central forces were not being properly utilized despite their presence in the district. “These targetted attacks on Hindus should be prevented,” he argued, characterizing the violence as premeditated attacks on the Hindu community.
The petitioner’s counsel submitted that the district was communally sensitive with a history of riots. “The district is communally sensitive, and riots have occurred here before. A carnage has unfolded where members of the minority community [in the area] are being targeted,” the counsel told the court, urging NIA intervention if State police failed to contain the situation.
However, the proceedings witnessed sharp exchanges between the State and Central Governments. Additional Solicitor-General Asok Kumar Chakrabarti claimed that the Border Security Force (BSF) present in the area was used only for about two hours on January 16 and 17. “Not patrolling 24 hours. There are five companies. Only one company is used,” he stated, arguing that all five BSF companies should be utilized round-the-clock.
Senior Advocate Kalyan Bandopadhyay, appearing for the State Government, challenged these submissions and accused the petitioner of filing a “Political Interest Litigation” rather than a public interest plea. “It seems he wants to make it political and create a divide between two religions,” Bandopadhyay argued.
The State counsel defended the Government’s response, stating that CAPF teams were already deployed and being actively utilized.
