Tamanna Khatun murder case: West Bengal replaces public prosecutor on mother's plea
Synopsis
A mother's years-long plea for a credible prosecutor in her daughter's murder case was ignored under the previous government — and granted within days of the new Chief Minister taking over. The Tamanna Khatun case, rooted in alleged post-election violence in Nadia, is now a litmus test for justice delivery under West Bengal's new administration.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal replaced public prosecutor Subedi Sanyal with Bivas Chattopadhyay in the Tamanna Khatun murder case on 26 June .
The change came after victim's mother Sabina Iyasmin Sheikh appealed directly to new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari .
Sheikh had made the same request to former CM Mamata Banerjee multiple times, including in writing — with no action taken.
Five long-absconding accused in the case were arrested shortly after Sheikh's meeting with Adhikari.
Tamanna Khatun , a minor from Kaliganj, Nadia district , was allegedly killed in a crude bomb blast on 23 June last year during a TMC victory procession.
Sheikh contested the recent West Bengal Assembly elections from Kaliganj on a CPI(M) ticket but lost to Alifa Ahmed of the Trinamool Congress.
The West Bengal government has replaced the public prosecutor in the Tamanna Khatun murder case — involving a minor girl killed in a crude bomb blast in Nadia district — following a direct appeal by the victim's mother to new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. The change, confirmed by state officials on Friday, 26 June, marks one of the first major criminal justice interventions of the Adhikari administration.
The Prosecutor Change
The earlier public prosecutor, Subedi Sanyal, has been replaced by Bivas Chattopadhyay, who is described by state secretariat officials as having a sustained track record of securing speedy convictions in similar cases. According to an insider at the Nabanna state secretariat, the appointment followed a personal plea from the victim's mother, Sabina Iyasmin Sheikh, during her meeting with Chief Minister Adhikari earlier this week.
A Request Ignored Under the Previous Government
Notably, Sheikh had reportedly made the same request — to appoint Chattopadhyay as the public prosecutor — to former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on multiple occasions, including through a written appeal. According to officials, her request was not acted upon for reasons that remain unclear. The change has now come under the new dispensation within days of her renewed appeal.
'In fact, she had requested the previous Chief Minister, Mamata Banerjee, a number of times to appoint Bivas Chattopadhyay as the PP in the case. She had also given a written request on this count to the previous Chief Minister. But for some reason or another, her request was not honoured,' a state government official said.
Background: The Kaliganj Blast That Killed Tamanna
The case dates to 23 June last year, when Tamanna Khatun, a minor from Kaliganj in Nadia district, was killed on the spot after crude bombs were allegedly hurled at her family's residence. The incident reportedly occurred during a victory procession following the announcement of bypoll results for the Kaliganj Assembly Constituency, which recorded a landslide win for then-Trinamool Congress (TMC) candidate Alifa Ahmed. Tamanna's family was reportedly affiliated with CPI(M).
Some Trinamool Congress activists allegedly threw crude bombs at the residence during the celebrations, according to accounts that have been part of the case record. The allegation has not been formally adjudicated.
Arrests and the Mother's Political Journey
Sheikh expressed gratitude to Chief Minister Adhikari for two developments: first, the arrest of five long-absconding accused persons in the case shortly after her meeting with him, and second, the acceptance of her plea for the prosecutor change. In the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly elections, Sheikh herself contested from Kaliganj as a CPI(M) candidate, but was defeated by Alifa Ahmed of the Trinamool Congress, who won for a second consecutive term.
With a new prosecutor now in charge, the pace and direction of the trial will be closely watched by both the victim's family and political observers tracking accountability under the new state government.
Point of View
Given the accused were reportedly TMC-affiliated, raises questions about institutional capture of criminal justice processes in West Bengal. The case is not just about one child's death; it is a stress test for whether the new administration can separate political convenience from prosecutorial independence. The appointment of a track-record prosecutor is a necessary first step, but conviction — not just optics — will determine its meaning.
NationPress
26 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Tamanna Khatun and how was she killed?
Tamanna Khatun was a minor girl from Kaliganj in Nadia district, West Bengal, who was allegedly killed on 23 June last year when crude bombs were hurled at her family's residence during a Trinamool Congress victory procession after the Kaliganj bypoll results. She died on the spot. Her family was reportedly affiliated with CPI(M).
Why was the public prosecutor changed in the Tamanna Khatun case?
The public prosecutor was changed following a direct appeal by the victim's mother, Sabina Iyasmin Sheikh, to Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari. Sheikh had made the same request to former CM Mamata Banerjee multiple times, including in writing, but it was not acted upon.
Who is the new public prosecutor in the Tamanna Khatun case?
Bivas Chattopadhyay has been appointed as the new public prosecutor, replacing Subedi Sanyal. State officials describe Chattopadhyay as having a sustained track record of securing speedy convictions in similar cases.
Have any arrests been made in the Tamanna Khatun case?
Yes. Five long-absconding accused persons in the case were arrested shortly after Sabina Iyasmin Sheikh met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari and appealed for justice. The victim's mother credited Adhikari for both the arrests and the prosecutor change.
What is the political background of the Tamanna Khatun case?
The case has a charged political backdrop: Tamanna's family were CPI(M) supporters, while the alleged perpetrators were reportedly TMC activists celebrating a bypoll victory. Her mother later contested the West Bengal Assembly elections from Kaliganj on a CPI(M) ticket, losing to TMC's Alifa Ahmed, who won a second consecutive term.
