Who Were Convicted for the Murder of Hargobindo and Chandan Das in Murshidabad Riots?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- 13 individuals convicted for the murder of Hargobindo and Chandan Das.
- Sentencing scheduled for Tuesday.
- The murders occurred during protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
- Investigation revealed the attack was pre-planned.
- Victims' family accepted compensation from the Leader of the Opposition.
Kolkata, Dec 22 (NationPress) A district court in Murshidabad, West Bengal has found 13 individuals guilty for the murders of Hargobindo Das and his son Chandan Das during a turbulent communal riot in April, which was sparked by protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
The court in Jangipur will announce the sentencing for these convicts on Tuesday.
This sentencing follows nearly nine months after the tragic events on April 12.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state police apprehended the 13 convicts in succession.
This year, the SIT presented a comprehensive 900-page charge sheet regarding the case.
According to the charge sheet, the father and son were murdered while they attempted to avert violence in their village.
The SIT characterized the assault as “pre-planned”.
The bereaved family turned down the compensation offer from the state government led by the Trinamool Congress, but accepted the aid provided by Suvendu Adhikari, the Leader of the Opposition.
Earlier in April, the Calcutta High Court directed the establishment of the SIT for investigating the Murshidabad riots and mandated the deployment of Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF).
A division bench, comprising Justice Soumen Sen and Justice Raja Basu Chowdhury, indicated that the measures taken by the West Bengal government to manage communal unrest were insufficient, asserting that earlier deployment of CAPF could have prevented the situation from becoming so “grave” and “volatile”.
Furthermore, it recommended that, in addition to compensating families affected by violence, the state should ensure that educational institutions in sensitive areas remain operational.