Arrests reach 302 as cops probe key suspects, arson cases
Times of India | 23 April 2025
Kolkata: The arrest tally in the ongoing crackdown on the Murshidabad violence reached 302 on Tuesday as Bengal cops intensified the search for players who masterminded the violence in Shamsherganj and Suti.
Among the four fresh arrests during the day, three were taken into police custody, while another, arrested late in the evening, is stated to have played a key role in the arson at Shamsherganj. Cops also confirmed that they had arrested two persons for allegedly snatching the service weapon of an SDPO in Suti on April 11, the day the violence broke out.
The administration has identified 109 buildings that were affected by the violence and forensic evidence has been collected from each one, said sources.
An officer said that six men picked up from Odisha could not be produced before a local court on Tuesday as the train was massively delayed. A police team from Kolkata brought them to Jangipur by car late on Tuesday.
"We wanted to produce one of the sons of Ziaul Sheikh at the local court at the earliest so that we can begin the questioning along with his father. Sheikh's other son was shown arrested by Odisha Police in an arms case and we could not seek his custody. We need to secure his production warrant in our murder case where the father-son duo was killed on April 12. That can be done after we complete the necessary procedures," said an officer at Bhabani Bhawan.
"While cases have been lodged at both Suti and Shamsherganj, our main focus is on the latter. We need to investigate the role of the six accused before we begin raids in Jharkhand," the officer added.
Sheikh, a resident of Sulitala Purbapara, the neighbouring village of Jafrabad, was nabbed from North Dinajpur's Chopra on Saturday. This was the fourth arrest in the killing of Haragobindo Das and his son Chandan. One of his sons is accused of conspiring and instigating a mob to carry out vandalism at the residence of the deceased. CCTV footage and mobile tower records have confirmed his presence at the crime scene.
Earlier, police arrested two brothers, Kalu Nadar and Dildar, and one Inzamam ul Haque, in connection with the incident. A total of 138 FIRs were lodged for the violence in Murshidabad.