The West Bengal Police on Thursday arrested a third suspect in connection with the brutal murder of Hargobind Das and his son Chandan Das during recent violence in Murshidabad district.
The accused, identified as Injamul Haq, is a local resident of Suripara near the crime scene. According to police officials, Haq allegedly tampered with and destroyed CCTV footage related to the incident. He was apprehended by the State Special Task Force (STF) and is believed to have attempted to obstruct the investigation.
Assistant Director General (ADG) of Police, South Bengal, Supratim Sarkar, stated that Haq, although not necessarily the primary assailant, played a significant role in hampering evidence collection. “He tried to disrupt the investigation by damaging CCTV connections during the violence,” Sarkar said.
This marks the third arrest in the case, following the earlier detentions of Kalu Nadar and Dildar Nadar. A Special Investigation Team (SIT) led by DIG Syed Waquar Raza has been formed to probe the violent events of April 11 and the subsequent days.
The father-son duo was allegedly murdered by miscreants in Samserganj amid widespread unrest. ADG Sarkar emphasized the police’s commitment to bringing all perpetrators, direct or indirect, to justice. “We aim for an expeditious chargesheet and swift convictions,” he added.
Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court has taken cognisance of the situation and ordered the continued deployment of central forces in Murshidabad to ensure peace and order. The court also directed the formation of a committee to aid the restoration and rehabilitation of violence victims.
This committee will comprise representatives from the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), West Bengal Human Rights Commission, and the State Legal Services Authority. The panel is tasked with addressing the victims’ grievances and submitting a report to the court.
Petitioner Advocate Priyanka Tibrewal said the court will oversee four key aspects, primarily focusing on victim support and housing. Advocate Kalyan Banerjee, representing the state, confirmed the court’s directive barring any provocative statements and noted that the demand for a CBI or NIA probe was not approved.
The next court hearing is scheduled for Monday.
