The Aryavarth Express
Durgapur (West Bengal): BJP leader Locket Chatterjee on Saturday launched a sharp attack on West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, alleging that the state government was deliberately creating law and order situations to stop the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process, amid violence during protests in Murshidabad district.
Speaking to reporters, Chatterjee said the situation in Beldanga had turned “extremely dangerous,” with protesters blocking National Highway 34, the key link between North and South Bengal, for nearly five to six hours. She claimed that the unrest had severely disrupted normal life in the region.
“The connection between North Bengal and South Bengal has been cut. Yesterday, the mob blocked the road for five to six hours. The situation in Beldanga is very dangerous,” she said.
The BJP leader also highlighted an incident in which a woman journalist was allegedly assaulted while covering the protests. Chatterjee claimed that despite police presence at the spot, no action was taken to rescue the journalist when she was attacked by the mob.
“A woman journalist was thrown on the road and beaten while covering the situation. Her cameraman was also attacked. She is currently undergoing treatment in a hospital. Shockingly, police were present, but they did not intervene despite repeated pleas for help,” she alleged.
Chatterjee further claimed that the journalist was even stopped while trying to escape in a toto and was rescued only due to the intervention of a local resident. She accused the state police of inaction, saying no action had been taken against those responsible.
Targeting Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, the BJP leader alleged that the state government was intentionally allowing such situations to escalate in order to stall the SIR process. She also criticised the Chief Minister for allegedly blaming the journalist instead of condemning the attack.
“In Bengal, people say they love their daughters, but in 2026, a woman journalist was tortured. The Chief Minister did not even issue a statement and instead said there was no need to go close to the spot. The mob went free, and the woman was blamed. Law and order in the state has completely collapsed,” Chatterjee said.
She further alleged that the Chief Minister was attempting to obstruct the SIR process as it could lead to the identification of ineligible voters. “Mamata Banerjee knows that names of Rohingyas are being added during the SIR process, which is why she is trying to stop it. But this process will not stop,” she claimed.
Chatterjee’s remarks came amid continued unrest in Murshidabad’s Beldanga area following protests over the alleged lynching of Alauddin Sheikh, a migrant worker from West Bengal, in Jharkhand. On Friday, protesters blocked National Highway 12 and disrupted rail services by setting tyres on fire on railway tracks under the Sealdah division. Violence continued on Saturday, prompting the deployment of security forces to restore normalcy and prevent further escalation.
