Latest news with #HaragobindaDas
The Hindu
15-05-2025
- Politics
- The Hindu
Murshidabad violence: Calcutta High Court releases police overaction case by victim's family
A Division Bench of the Calcutta High Court on Thursday (May 15, 2025) released a petition alleging that police were hounding the family of a man and his son, who were killed in the communal violence that had rocked Murshidabad district in April. The Bench presided by Justice Soumen Sen released the matter on the ground that there is a designated Bench for hearing issues related to police inaction and overaction. Also Read | Murshidabad riots not spontaneous, says fact finding team; demands judicial inquiry A single Bench of the High Court had earlier released the petition since a Division Bench was already hearing issues related to the incidents in Murshidabad, and the present petitioners were alleged victims of violence in the district. The matter will be sent back to the Chief Justice of the High Court for assignment to a new Bench for hearing. Aggrieved by the alleged actions of the Bidhannagar police commissionerate, widows of victims Haragobinda Das and Chandan had moved the high court. Haragobinda Das and his son Chandan were allegedly hacked to death by rioters at Samserganj in Murshidabad district on April 12 during protests over the Waqf (Amendment) Act. It had been stated before the single bench of Justice Tirthankar Ghosh that their family members came to Salt Lake, and were staying at a house there with the purpose of filing a petition before the high court. Their lawyer had stated before the court that the door of the house was broken, and abuses were hurled at the family members of the deceased father and son by personnel from Bidhannagar police commissionerate.
Indian Express
04-05-2025
- Politics
- Indian Express
Violence-hit Murshidabad family alleges police intimidation, write to CJI, Bengal Governor
The family of Haragobinda Das and Chandan Das, the father-son duo who were killed during the April 11 violence in Samserganj, Murshidabad, has written a letter to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court TS Sivagnanam, and West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose alleging intimidation by the state police. The family alleged that a team of Murshidabad police on Sunday morning forcibly entered the Salt Lake residence of a BJP worker, where they have been residing for the last one week, and harassed them. The police, on the other hand, denied the charge and said they visited the Salt Lake residence after a family member of Das in a written complaint alleged that the family had been abducted. According to the police, some officers from the local police station in Murshidabad visited the Salt Lake residence on Sunday morning, as they wanted to speak with the family members after receiving the kidnapping complaint. But the Das family did not agree. Allegedly, the police forcibly entered the residence by breaking open the door of the house. On receiving the information, BJP leaders, including Shankhudev Panda, Tarunjyoti Tiwari, and Sajal Ghosh, reached the spot and had a heated argument with the police. '…we provided a formal statement (to the police) clearly stating that we had come to Kolkata on our own volition and were under no duress. Despite our cooperation, the IO continued to attempt to intimidate us, though his efforts were in vain. We were left shaken and traumatised by the brazen conduct of the officers involved, particularly Sankar Narayan Saha (Inspector-in-Charge), Rakesh Ray, Bablu Das, Manik Mondal, Kaushik Ghosh, and Chaitanya Das, who all harassed and attempted to intimidate us in clear abuse of their authority. We therefore plead with folded hands for urgent protection and intervention. We request that appropriate Central forces be deployed to ensure our safety and that we be provided secure passage to the Hon'ble High Court so that we may seek justice under the Constitution of India,' the letter written by the Das family read. Meanwhile, BJP leader said that the Das family has been moved to another undisclosed location.
Time of India
26-04-2025
- Politics
- Time of India
Mamata to hand over damages to Murshidabad families in May
Kolkata: CM Mamata Banerjee announced on Saturday that she would herself hand over the compensation to the families of the victims of Murshidabad violence in early May, when she visits the district. The CM had earlier announced a compensation of Rs 10 lakh each for the families of the three who died in the violence. Haragobinda Das and his son Chandan were killed on April 11 at Jafrabad in Shamsherganj, while Izaz Ahmed Sheikh succumbed to bullet injuries following a police firing at Suti. "I will go to Murshidabad in early May to hand over the compensation," the CM said and instructed officials to expedite the process. "Those whose houses were destroyed will have new homes built under the Banglar Bari scheme ," the CM had said earlier.
News18
22-04-2025
- Politics
- News18
‘Bengal Cops Didn't Answer Our Calls, BSF Reached Hours Before Them': Murshidabad Villagers Reveal Their ‘Saviour'
Murshidabad: On ground zero, the BSF, which has been vilified by the Mamata Banerjee-led Bengal government, is seen as a 'saviour' As violence hit Murshidabad on April 8, West Bengal Chief Minister (CM) Mamata Banerjee accused the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the Border Security Force (BSF) of fuelling tension. 'I came across news claiming the role of elements from across the border in the Murshidabad unrest. Is it not the role of the BSF to guard the border? The BSF is under the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). The state government does not guard the international border. The Central government can't evade responsibility. I will find the local youths the BSF paid to throw stones during the violence," the CM had said, addressing a meeting with Muslim religious leaders in Kolkata, last Wednesday. On ground zero, however, the much vilified BSF is seen as a 'saviour". 'POLICE WERE TOO LATE' Jaffrabad village in Murshidabad's Shamsherganj area is still coming to terms with the murders of 72-year-old Haragobinda Das and his 40-year-old son Chandan. Locals, however, allege, the BSF personnel reached the affected village at least two hours before the local police, turning out to be the first responders. 'We fought the attackers for hours. We were tired of resisting them. We called the police a hundred times. They didn't pick up the calls. When they did answer, the police told us, 'Jaan bachake bhaago (Save yourselves and run)'. Around 2 pm, a BSF vehicle reached here, giving us the much-needed comfort," says Ranjit Kumar Pal. He adds that around 4 pm, the local police came to the village. Mandal claims the build-up for the mayhem started around 9 am as an anti-Waqf protest turned communal and violent. Ranjit has taken refuge at his uncle's house in the next village until they have a roof on their heads. Swarup Das, the nephew of Haragobinda Das, echoed the sentiment. 'We were calling the police since 8.30 or 9 am. But the police turned up at 4 or 5 pm." By the time the police reached the area, it was too late for the family, as two of them had become victims of a frenzied mob. 'We don't trust the state authorities. We need the Centre…The Centre should set up a BSF camp here. Otherwise, we won't be able to live here," adds Swarup. Meanwhile, six locals — Babul Sk, 24, Abdul Khalek, 24, Saba Karim, 25, Roni Sheikh, 23, Manarul Sheikh, 54, and Azfarul Sheikh, 21, — who had fled to Odisha and were involved in the killing of the father and son have been arrested by the West Bengal Police STF. All are from Sulitala, which is very close to Jaffrabad, as opposed to claims of a ' Bangladeshi hand". These arrests take the total count to 10. 'THERE WAS NEVER ANY TENSION IN THIS VILLAGE BEFORE' Remembering Haragobinda Das, his childhood friend, Sishir Das says, 'Why would anyone do this to him? He was the most amicable person. He was equally good to people of both communities, Hindus as well as Muslims. I have never heard him utter a single abuse for anyone in my life." Das, whose house too was burnt, says, 'There was never any tension in this village. In fact, it was so peaceful that the elections were conducted with security by just civic volunteers here." He, too, agrees with Ranjit and Balaram's charge of police turning up very late. The distrust for the local law enforcement machinery was palpable even in the voice of the widow of Haragobinda Das. She expressed her faith in the BSF over state law enforcement. 'We want a BSF camp here. A state police camp won't do." When asked why, her reply was clear, 'After so many calls for so long, the police did not turn up". Earlier, News18 met the family of Lily Pal in Degri village, which was caught fleeing their ancestral house in search of safety. For her as well, it is the BSF that inspires a sense of safety and instils hope. 'We want a BSF camp here. We demand the President's Rule in Bengal," she had told News18. 'My request to the Prime Minister is that we should have a BSF camp in Jaffrabad. We will not survive if the BSF doesn't stay here… Otherwise, the attackers will kill us. Nothing will be left," urges Ranjit. Unperturbed by political allegations and not burdened by local expectations, the BSF personnel quietly march through the serpentine roads, by the ponds, crossing orchards in violence-torn Murshidabad. News18 India delivers breaking news, top headlines, and live updates on politics, weather, elections, law and crime, much more. Stay informed with real-time coverage and in-depth analysis of current events across India. tags : Border Security Force (BSF) Mamata Banerjee murshidabad Murshidabad ground report news18 specials Location : Murshidabad, India, India First Published:
