The husband of a former Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor from Kanchrapara Municipality in North 24 Parganas district died while in police custody on Saturday, 8 August, with the family alleging he was beaten to death inside the lock-up. The deceased, Birju Keot, was arrested by officers of Halisahar police station on charges including extortion, and had been placed in police custody by a court order just a day earlier.

Sequence of Events

Birju Keot was produced before a court on Friday, where the judge directed five days of police custody. His wife, Jenny Sharma Keot — the former TMC councillor of Ward No. 23 of Kanchrapara Municipality — visited him at the police station at around 10 pm on Friday and stated he appeared healthy at the time. A medical examination conducted by the police station also reportedly found no serious physical ailment.

However, according to the family, Birju was allegedly tortured after midnight, with his hands and feet tied, and beaten inside the lock-up. A source from Halisahar police station said he was found lying ill in the cell after midnight and was rushed to Jawaharlal Nehru Hospital in Kalyani, Nadia district, where doctors declared him dead. Initial speculation pointed to a possible heart attack, though this has not been confirmed.

Cause of Death Still Unconfirmed

The exact cause of death remains uncertain pending an autopsy report. It is also unclear whether injury marks were found on the body, according to the police source. No official statement has been issued by the police in response to the family's allegations of custodial torture.

Family's Allegations and Demands

Speaking to reporters, Jenny Sharma Keot maintained that her husband was innocent and had been tortured and killed while in custody. She noted that the couple has two children, one of whom is only three years old. The family has demanded an impartial probe into the incident and punishment for those found responsible.

TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee Slams Police

The incident drew sharp political reactions, with Trinamool Congress MP Abhishek Banerjee publicly condemning the police administration. In a post on X, Banerjee wrote: 'BIRJU KEOT. His name was not in the FIR. The @WBPolice still picked him up. He died in custody. His family alleges brutal police assault. READ THAT AGAIN.'

Banerjee further said: 'When the State can take a man into custody despite his name not appearing in the FIR, and he does not come out alive, the question is no longer merely about law and order. It is about the rule of law itself. Under @BJP4Bengal, allegations of police excesses and political violence are becoming harder to dismiss as isolated incidents. Who protects the citizen when the police become the source of fear?'

Notably, the allegation that Birju Keot's name did not appear in the FIR — yet he was arrested — adds a significant legal dimension to the case that authorities have not yet addressed. The autopsy findings are expected to be the critical turning point in determining whether criminal proceedings follow against any police personnel.