At a time when the RG Kar rape and murder trial has hit the headlines once again with former principal of the institute, Sandip Ghosh, and former officer-in-charge of Tala police station, Abhijit Mondal, securing bail, The Indian Express lists three other recent cases from West Bengal wherein bright, young lives were snuffed out under mysterious circumstances.
Anis Khan, student, Aliah University
The murder of Anis Khan, 28, a Muslim student leader, allegedly by police personnel, put the Trinamool Congress government in West Bengal in a tight spot. According to Anis Khan’s father Salem Khan, on the night of February 19, 2022, four people – one in police uniform and three dressed as civic volunteers – forcibly entered his house in Amta, Howrah district, searching for Anis Khan. While the man in uniform reportedly detained Salem Khan at gunpoint, the other three went upstairs in search of his son. Salem Khan accused the men dressed as civic volunteers of pushing his son to his death from the third floor of the house. He claimed that after Anis Khan fell to the ground, the three men came downstairs and told the man in uniform, “Sir, the job is done.”
A student of Aliah University, Anis Khan was a leader of the Students’ Federation of India (SFI) before becoming an active member of the Indian Secular Front (ISF), which was formed just ahead of the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections by influential Islamic cleric Abbas Siddiqui. Anis Khan was also a prominent figure during the protests against the Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) and the National Register of Citizens (NRC) in Kolkata. At the time of his death, he was studying journalism and was a leader of the student wing of the ISF at Aliah University.
Anis Khan’s family filed a petition in Calcutta High Court for a CBI investigation. However, the Court kept faith in the Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by the state government. The SIT filed a chargesheet at ACJM of Uluberia Court, Howrah on July 10, 2022. In the chargesheet, the SIT said, “In the light of facts and circumstances elicited during the investigation as well as evidentiary analysis of all collected oral, documentary and physical evidence, the investigation has revealed that a police party led by ASI Nirmal Das and comprising… HO Kashinath Bera and Civic volunteer Pritam Bhattacharjee had been to the house of deceased Anis Khan on 19.02.2022 at about 01:00 hrs and made a forcible entry into the house. The raid by the police team was not in accordance with procedure provided by law and extant police regulations.”
It further stated, “Investigation has further revealed that entire raid was conducted in pursuance discussions between SI Debabrata Chakravorty, the then officer-in-charge of Amta police station and one civic volunteer namely Sourav Kanrar and police team proceeded to the house of Anis Khan without taking necessary steps required in compliance to law on the directions of OC Amta PS. Such acts by aforesaid police personnel and auxiliary staff tantamount to offences of conspiracy to illegally confine a person and house trespass for which they are liable to be prosecuted in accordance with the law.”
Salem Khan’s counsel Shamim Ahmed said, “In the chargesheet… 103 witnesses were named out of which only one witness… Salem Khan’s account has been taken till date. We don’t know how much time it will take to complete the trial.”
Faizan Ahmed, student, IIT Kharagpur
Two years have passed (October 14, 2022) since the tragic death of Faizan Ahmed, 23, a mechanical engineering student from Tinsukia, Assam. Despite initial police claims of suicide, the deceased’s family alleged foul play and stated that he was a victim of ragging at Lala Lajpat Rai Hostel in IIT Kharagpur.
The case, currently sub judice, took a significant turn with the submission of a second forensic report a few months ago. This report, contradicting the initial police narrative, highlighted gunshot injuries on Ahmed’s body. The court is now awaiting a final forensic report to corroborate these findings.
Aniruddha Mitra, a lawyer representing the victim’s family, questioned the motive behind “prematurely classifying the death as a suicide, even before initiating thorough investigations”. In Ahmed’s case, the initial claim of self-inflicted wrist injuries was not substantiated by any evidence, including a missing viscera report. Justice Rajshekhar Mantha’s order for a second post-mortem was challenged by the state but ultimately upheld.
The latest forensic report further strengthened the family’s suspicions. Human blood was detected on Ahmed’s nail cuttings, hair strands, spine, mandible, and back muscles. The doctor conducting the second autopsy also highlighted the absence of the right temporal bone of the deceased’s skull, aligning with initial photographs of the crime scene. The report has excluded poisoning as a cause of death.
As the legal battle continues, Ahmed’s family remains steadfast in the pursuit of justice.
17-year-old student of Jadavpur University
A father whose minor son tragically died under mysterious circumstances at Jadavpur University has been tirelessly fighting for justice. For over a year, he has been attending numerous court hearings, facing 12 accused and their legal teams. Despite the immense emotional turmoil and the toll it has taken on his family, the victim’s father remains determined to seek justice for his son.
On August 9, 2023, the 17-year-old boy fell from the second-floor balcony of a hostel building. Police investigations revealed a harrowing ordeal of bullying, sexual abuse, and humiliation the boy endured at the hands of his seniors. The accused, a mix of current and former students, have been charged under the Pocso Act and IPC sections related to abetment to suicide.
Speaking to Indian Express, the victim’s father said, “There are 12 accused. Every time any of them apply for bail, I appear in court. This is in addition to simultaneous hearings of my son’s death. I have not missed one single court hearing. My entire life has changed. My wife is still in shock, it is already one year but I am determined that I will see the end of this case. I have lost my son but I don’t want anyone to go through this. I curse myself for putting my son in Jadavpur University…”
He said he had lost all hopes of justice but very recently the trial has been expedited.
“Nearly 40-50 advocates were there to take their (accused) case and fight with us. I would get so disheartened seeing all this. It was like the case was slipping from my hand. The accused persons have money and can afford the best lawyers to prove themselves innocent but a father’s struggle will not be wasted. I have full faith in the judiciary,” the deceased’s father added.
Speaking about the case, a police officer said, “We have evidence that he was sexually abused, forced to strip and the charges have been framed accordingly.”