Kolkata (IANS): Amid lingering tension in Beldanga in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district following the return of the body of a local migrant worker allegedly killed in neighbouring Jharkhand, Trinamool Congress general secretary and Lok Sabha MP Abhishek Banerjee on Thursday spoke to Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren, seeking strict legal action against those responsible.
According to a senior leader close to Banerjee, the Jharkhand Chief Minister assured him that the state police are treating the case with utmost seriousness and have initiated all necessary steps. Soren also conveyed that a detailed investigation is already underway.
Meanwhile, former West Bengal Congress president and ex-Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury visited the residence of the deceased migrant worker, Alauddin Sheikh, at Sujarpur-Kamarpur village panchayat under Beldanga. He met the bereaved family and assured them of full support, adding that he would also approach the Jharkhand administration to seek a fair and impartial probe.
Tension prevailed at Beldanga in Murshidabad district of West Bengal on Friday after the body of a local migrant worker, who was allegedly killed in neighbouring Jharkhand, reached his native village. The deceased migrant worker was identified as Alauddin Sheikh (36), a resident of Sujarpur-Kamarpur village panchayat under Beldanga in Murshidabad district.
Sheikh stayed in Jharkhand to earn his livelihood as a street hawker. His family members alleged that on Thursday morning, the news of his demise was received from Jharkhand. Jharkhand Police informed the family that Sheikh’s body was found hanging in his rented room. However, the family members claimed that although Jharkhand Police were trying to pass on the incident as a case of suicide, they were sure that he was lynched first and then his body was hanged.
After the body of the migrant worker reached his residence, the agitated local crowd first blocked the National Highways by burning tyres. Later, the protests spread onto the railway tracks, with the local people also blocking the rail route. Following the parallel rail and road blockades, there was tremendous traffic congestion on the National Highways, and the local train services in the area were disrupted.
The situation in Beldanga later returned to normal, with rail and road blockades withdrawn and local train services resuming. Murshidabad District Magistrate Nitin Singhania announced that the West Bengal government would provide employment to one member of the deceased worker’s family and extend financial assistance as compensation.
To safeguard migrant workers, the district administration has decided to set up a 24-hour control room. Migrant workers from Murshidabad district living in other states can contact the facility to seek help in case of any difficulty.
