Fresh unrest broke out on January 17, 2026, in Beldanga, Murshidabad district. Hundreds of locals blocked National Highway 12 at Barua More. Traffic came to a halt, leading to long queues of stranded vehicles. Protesters also damaged a railway gate and tried to disrupt train services on the Eastern Railway's Sealdah-Lalgola section. Police stepped in after several hours. They used force, including baton charges, to disperse the crowd and reopen the road. District Police Superintendent Kumar Sunny Raj said, "There were some blockades where we had to resort to baton charge and have cleared everything. Situation is normal, shops are open." Since January 16, 2026, violence has flared following the killing of 36-year-old migrant worker Alauddin Sheikh in Jharkhand. The unrest turned violent on Friday, with a female journalist injured during the chaos. Police are reviewing CCTV footage to identify those who attacked her. On Saturday, another TV channel journalist was assaulted. More than 12 people have been hurt over two days. Around 15 to 20 people have been arrested for the violence in the last two days, the SP added. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra condemned the attack on the female journalist. He urged media unity in support of assaulted reporters. West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking on January 16, said, "Migrant workers are being targeted in other States and the anger of the minorities was justified." She added she does not support violence but remarked, "everything is not in her hands."