West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Monday, 10 August visited the family of Birju Keot, a Trinamool Congress worker who died in police custody at Halisahar in North 24 Parganas district. Adhikari, who also holds the state Home Minister portfolio, publicly admitted to police negligence and announced a string of accountability measures — including the suspension of the Investigating Officer (IO) and the removal of the Inspector-in-Charge of Halisahar Police Station.

Key Accountability Actions

The Chief Minister confirmed that the Investigating Officer has been suspended and the Inspector-in-Charge of Halisahar Police Station has been sent to police lines. A magistrate-level inquiry into the custodial death has been ordered, with North 24 Parganas District Magistrate Shilpa Gourisaria assigned to lead the probe. The Chief Secretary is expected to issue a formal notification in this regard. Progress reports from the inquiry will be shared regularly with both the Chief Minister's office and the deceased's family, according to Adhikari.

Relief Package for the Family

Adhikari announced an ex gratia payment of ₹10 lakh for the family, citing the fact that Keot leaves behind two children. The deceased's wife will receive a monthly financial assistance of ₹15,000 for one year, after which she will be offered a Group-D government position. Additionally, the family members will be given jobs as 'attendants' of the Home Minister, considering their financial condition. Adhikari noted that the family had not applied for these benefits — the government extended them on its own initiative.

What the Chief Minister Said

'He died in the police lockup, it is as true as day. I cannot say how much torture he died under. Until I get the report, I cannot say anything,' Adhikari told reporters. He added that the real cause of death would become clearer once the autopsy report is received, and assured that action would be taken against the culprits based on the investigation's findings. Adhikari also acknowledged the family's restraint, saying: 'They did not give anyone the opportunity to do politics over the death. The deceased man's grandfather said, we want justice. They have trusted the government and the administration. This is a big debt to us.'

Background: The Arrest and Death

According to reports, Halisahar Police had arrested Birju Keot — husband of Jenny Sharma Keot, former Trinamool Congress councillor of Ward No. 23, Kanchrapara Municipality — on charges including extortion. He was produced before a court on Friday, which ordered five days of police custody. By Saturday, reports emerged that Keot had died in custody. His wife Jenny alleged he was beaten inside the lockup. Keot's wife had reportedly written to the Chief Minister accusing the police of physically abusing her husband.

Political Fallout and Protests

The incident has triggered political turbulence. Former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee visited Kanchrapara on Sunday to meet Jenny's family, accompanied by Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen. However, she encountered protests en route — shoes and mud were allegedly hurled at her vehicle, and bricks and stones were thrown at the car. Banerjee claimed that Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-backed miscreants were responsible and said she could have suffered a head injury had the windows been open. The incident adds another layer of political tension to what is already a sensitive custodial death case. With the autopsy report and District Magistrate's findings still pending, the full picture of what happened inside Halisahar's lockup is yet to emerge.