Five more held for Murshidabad violence, arrests reach 307
Times of India | 24 April 2025
123 Kolkata/Jangipur: Five more people were arrested on Wednesday on charges of rioting in connection with the violence in Murshidabad earlier this month. One among them, said the SIT probing the cases, was found to have links in both Suti and Shamsherganj and taken into police custody. The total number of arrests was now 307, said top officers.
The development came on the same day that the six accused nabbed from Odisha were produced in a local court in transit remand and taken into police custody. This includes one of the sons of Ziaul Sheikh, who is charged with the murder of Haragobindo Das and son Chandan Das on April 12. Police said the father and son would be questioned together. "We are also moving an Odisha court soon to take custody of Sheikh's other son, who is in Odisha police's custody in an arms case," said a top Bengal cop.
Principal secretary-level officer PB Salim visited the Das family to find out what their urgent requirements were and assured them of security.
IAS officer Rajeev Kumar and DM Rajarshi Mitra toured the violence-affected areas of Bethbona, Ranipukur, Daspara, Palpara, Dighri and Dhuliyan town. They arranged for the restoration of electricity, provided fans and initiated efforts to help with gas connections.
Sources said while 109 houses had been identified so far for release of relief funds, the total number of establishments affected by the violence could be much higher. "There are indications that the final number can go up three times," said an administrative source.
"While cases have been lodged in both Suti and Shamsherganj, our main focus remains Shamsherganj. We need to investigate the role of the six accused before we begin raids in Jharkhand," the police officer added.