123 Kolkata/Berhampore: In a dramatic turn of events, the widows of Jafrabad murder victims Haragobindo Das and his son Chandan, Parul and Pinki, went "missing" from their Jangipur home for several hours on Saturday, only to resurface at a Salt Lake guest house on Sunday morning, flanked by BJP netas.
The several hours-long episode took place only a day before CM Mamata Banerjee was scheduled to visit Murshidabad. The April 12 double-murder probe by SIT has led to the arrest of nine people so far, including several named by Haragobindo's widow, Parul.
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With BJP's Sajal Ghosh and Tarunjyoti Tiwari, also an advocate, by their side, Parul and Pinki alleged that "police threats" prompted them to leave their home. They claimed police even went to the Salt Lake guest house to threaten them. Later, they wrote a two-page letter in English but signed in Bengali to the Chief Justices of the Supreme Court and Calcutta High Court, seeking police protection.
Police strongly refuted the charges. In a statement on X, West Bengal police said: "It is being spread from some quarters that the family of the father and son who were killed in Jafrabad of Shamserganj police station were forced to leave their home after being threatened by the police. This is completely false. The fact is that last night, the younger son of the family filed a written complaint at the Shamserganj police station that the wives of the deceased were taken away from their home by a man in a car the previous evening. The complaint further states that the family suspects that the two women have been kidnapped as they did not return home for more than 24 hours."
"Based on such serious allegations, a case was registered, and an investigation was started, and it was learned that the two women were in a house in Bidhannagar. The police went there and asked the two women if they were safe. They said that they had come voluntarily. The police then left. It is the duty of the police to investigate complaints, and that is what has been done. Legal action will be taken against those who are spreading malicious propaganda," police said.
Parul and Pinki also wrote to governor CV Ananda Bose, alleging police threats. This letter was posted on X by state leader of opposition Suvendu Adhikari with a claim that the family of the victims were being "persecuted". "Such heavy-handed tactics are an affront to justice and compassion, especially for a family seeking legal recourse through the Calcutta High Court for a CBI inquiry into their loved ones' deaths," he wrote.
BJP's Rajya Sabha MP Samik Bhattacharya said: "Hindus are a minority in Murshidabad, and they were attacked. Their homes were ransacked. They need help when they feel unsafe."
Trinamool Congress's Farakka MLA Manirul Islam, who lives close to Jafrabad, said: "Earlier, people from Bethbona village were taken to a Malda school after being fed with falsehoods and lies by BJP. In the same manner, the widows of Jafrabad have been taken to Kolkata without even the consent of their relatives. The Malda families returned when they realised the truth. The Jafrabad family, too, will return once they realise the political falsehoods they are trapped in."
Jangipur Lok Sabha MP Khallilur Rehman did not comment on the matter.