Suspicious Death of Migrant Worker Leads to Major Protests in West Bengal

The mysterious death of Alai Sheikh, a 30-year-old migrant worker from Beldanga, Murshidabad, in Jharkhand, has ignited significant unrest in his native village. While Sheikh's body was reportedly found hanging, his family and villagers vehemently dispute the suicide claim, alleging he was brutally murdered, potentially due to his Bengali origin, and his death was staged. Upon the arrival of Sheikh's body, hundreds of agitated residents blocked National Highway-12, a vital artery connecting Kolkata to North Bengal, and simultaneously obstructed railway tracks at Beldanga railway station. These actions led to extensive traffic jams and the complete suspension of train services on the LalGola–Sealdah section. Police and administrative officials have deployed to the area to manage the tense situation, but protesters insist they will continue their demonstration until justice is served and the perpetrators are arrested.