Kolkata, 20 February (H.S.): A fresh legal dispute has emerged over the investigation into the violence in Beldanga in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, with the National Investigation Agency (NIA) alleging that the police have not handed over the case diary despite court directions.

On Friday, counsel for the NIA informed a Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court that the agency has yet to receive the case diary related to the Beldanga violence. Meanwhile, the state government has filed a fresh petition in the High Court challenging the lower court’s order directing transfer of records, citing directions of the Supreme Court.

A Division Bench comprising Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Chaitali Chatterjee Das stated that the matter will now be heard on Tuesday by a Bench of Chief Justice Sujoy Paul and Justice Parthasarathi Sen, as the case had earlier been heard by that Bench.

Background of the Violence

Tensions flared in Beldanga last month following reports of the death of migrant worker Alauddin Sheikh, a resident of Murshidabad, in Jharkhand. His body was brought back to the district on January 16, after which protests broke out in parts of the area.

A section of local residents alleged that the Bengali worker had been beaten to death in another state. The protests escalated into rail blockades on the Sealdah–Lalgola line, incidents of vandalism, arson, and blockade of a national highway. However, Jharkhand Police claimed after a preliminary inquiry that Sheikh had died by suicide.

Court Directions and NIA Probe

Earlier, the High Court had observed that the Centre could entrust the probe to the NIA if it deemed fit. Subsequently, the Union Home Ministry directed the central agency to take over the investigation.

A city sessions court in Kolkata had also ordered that the case diary related to the Beldanga violence be handed over to the NIA, setting February 26 as the deadline for the transfer.

Despite the order, the NIA’s counsel informed the court that the agency has not yet received the case diary. The matter is now slated for hearing before the Division Bench on Tuesday, with all eyes on the court’s next course of action.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh