Father-son murders: In 4th arrest, SIT nabs key plotter from Chopra
Times of India | 20 April 2025
Kolkata: The SIT and Bengal STF on Saturday arrested one of the key conspirators in the murders of father-son duo Haragobindo Das and Chandan Das in Jafrabad on April 12. This is the fourth arrest in the double murder case. Overall, the total number of FIRs in the Murshidabad violence crossed 100, with 276 arrests till now.
The accused was identified as Ziaul Sheikh (45), a resident of Sulitala Purbapara, a village adjoining Jafrabad. SIT sources claimed Sheikh instigated the mob and was one of the main "organisers". He was on the run and detained from Chopra in North Dinajpur, where he was questioned extensively before being arrested.
DIG (Murshidabad) Syed Waquar Raza confirmed the arrest and said the accused was present at the place of occurrence at the time of the murders. Several pieces of technical evidence, including CCTV footage, showed Sheikh's presence during the murders at the Das residence, he added. Incidentally, all arrests in this case so far are of those residing nearby.
Meanwhile, forensic experts stationed in Murshidabad have confirmed that multiple gas cylinders exploded during the clashes after houses were set on fire. In certain houses where the owners could throw away the cylinders before fleeing, the damage due to fires was less, they said. "We are studying this pattern. However, there is no evidence of gas cylinders being brought from outside," said an SIT official.
Police said there was no stray incident after all restrictions on movement and internet were withdrawn. In the last 48 hours, numerous peace meetings were conducted throughout the region, from blocks to neighbourhoods, led by local police and state-appointed OSDs.
The police and district administration have set up booth-level peace committees that include representatives from different communities, political figures and civil society members. These committees will be responsible for identifying and resolving tensions in their areas.
The SIT team on Friday carried out extensive photography and videography of victims' properties and forensic experts collected evidence. "We have assigned officers to oversee zones and to collate evidence and coordinate with investigators," Raza said.
Within the police force, there is an ongoing deliberation regarding a potential "intelligence failure" leading to the Murshidabad riots. This critical issue was also reportedly a key point of discussion during a meeting of the SIT, a 20-member body formed by state govt to investigate the incidents, over the past two days.