West Bengal

IIE DIGITAL DESK : West Bengal, the family of Haragobinda Das and his son Chandan Das—both victims of the April 11 violence in Samserganj, Murshidabad—has formally accused the state police of intimidation. The family has addressed their grievances in letters sent to Chief Justice of India Sanjiv Khanna, Chief Justice of the Calcutta High Court T.S. Sivagnanam, and West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose. 

The Das family alleges that on Sunday morning, a team from the Murshidabad police forcibly entered a Salt Lake residence where they had been staying for the past week. According to the family, the police broke open the door and subjected them to harassment. They claim that despite providing a formal statement affirming their voluntary relocation to Kolkata and their willingness to cooperate, the investigating officer continued attempts to intimidate them. 

Contrarily, the police have denied these allegations, stating that their visit was prompted by a written complaint from a family member of the Das family, alleging that they had been abducted. Officers from the local police station in Murshidabad reportedly visited the Salt Lake residence to speak with the family members in response to this complaint. 

The incident has garnered political attention, with BJP leaders, including Shankhudev Panda, Tarunjyoti Tiwari, and Sajal Ghosh, arriving at the scene and engaging in a heated argument with the police. 

The family's appeal to the highest judicial authorities and the state governor underscores their plea for protection and justice. They express concern over the alleged harassment and seek intervention to ensure their safety and the upholding of their rights.

This case highlights ongoing tensions in West Bengal, particularly concerning the treatment of victims' families and the role of law enforcement in sensitive situations. The response from the judiciary and the governor's office to the family's appeal is awaited, as it may set a precedent for handling similar cases in the future.