Calcutta High Court Directs DM, DIG Of BSF To Visit Beldanga Over Instances Of Communal Violence

The Calcutta High Court has directed the District Magistrate and DIG of the BSF at Murshidabad to visit the Beldanga area over instances of communal clashes which have broken out between members of two religious communities since the celebrations of 'Kartik Puja' in November.

A division bench of Justices Harish Tandon and Hiranmay Bhattacharya held:

"In order to find out whether there has been any vandalism of religious structures, the names have been disclosed in the supplementary affidavit. We, therefore, direct the District Magistrate of Murshidabad and the Deputy Inspector General of Border Security Force, State Headquarter, Berhampur, Roshanbagh, Murshidabad, to jointly visit the places as mentioned in the supplementary affidavit or any other places, if they so feel, and submit a report on the next date of listing."

The petitioners on this occasion, submitted a supplementary affidavit showing several incriminating materials and also the religious structures having been vandalized and/or set on fire including the messages containing the expression of the words, which may spread the violence further.

According to the petitioner, there have been constant attempts on the part of a particular community people to flare-up the violence and, in fact, still the violence is continuing. The said supplementary affidavit also contained the transcription of the video which according to the petitioner incited the people so that the communal violence may recur or cause disruption to normal life.

State submitted a report indicating the steps taken with regard to the violence which erupted on 16.11.2024. According to the State, the internet facilities in the area are restored and the situation is also under control.

Centre submitted a preliminary report forwarded to the Advocate-on-record, indicating that not only on 16.11.2024 but the said violence further erupted on 21.11.2024, where a member of the particular community has not only vandalized the houses of the other community but also attacked a Police Outpost.

It was stated that sections of the Border Security Force have been patrolling the area since 20.11.2024 and the situation is being closely monitored.

Accordingly, the court held that for an on-ground version of events, a delegation would have to be sent to the area of occurrence in order to understand what the ground realities were.

Thus, it directed the DM and BSF DIG to visit the area and file the report before the next hearing.

Case: SANJUKTA SAMANTA Vs. UNION OF INDIA & ORS.

Case No: WPA (P) 477 OF 2024

Click here to read order