Kolkata, Aug 10 (IANS) West Bengal Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari, on Monday visited the family of a Trinamool worker who died in police custody in Halisahar of North 24 Parganas district. After that, CM Adhikari, who is also the state Home Minister, admitted to police negligence in the incident while facing media persons. The Chief Minister said that the police’s Investigating Officer (IO) is being suspended in this incident and the Inspector-in-Charge of Halisahar Police Station is being sent to police lines.
At the same time, the Chief Minister said that a magistrate-level investigation will be conducted “as per protocol” into the death in police custody.
North 24 Parganas District Magistrate Shilpa Gourisaria has been given the responsibility of this investigation.
He also said that the progress report of the government investigation will be regularly given to the Chief Minister and the family of the deceased.
At the same time, the Chief Minister announced that considering the financial condition of the family, the kin of the deceased will be given jobs as ‘attendants’ of the Home Minister.
Although the Trinamool worker’s family did not apply for it, the Chief Minister also announced financial assistance of Rs 10 lakh, as the deceased man has two children.
Talking about the job, CM Adhikari said, “The deceased man’s wife will be given financial assistance of Rs 15,000 per month for a year. After that, she will be given a job in Group-D position.”
CM Adhikari thanked the deceased man’s family members for trusting the government despite being Trinamool supporters.
He said, “I have expressed gratitude to the family on behalf of the government. 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.”
CM Adhikari said that the deceased man’s wife had written to him accusing the police of physically abusing her husband. He said that the real cause of death would become clearer once the autopsy report is received. He also assured that action would be taken against the culprits after investigating the role of the police in the incident.
“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. We have closed the Inspector in-Charge of Halisahar police station and suspended the Investigating Officer.
“Usually, in such incidents, the Deputy Magistrate or SDO investigates. Understanding the importance of the incident, the District Magistrate has been given the responsibility of investigating in this case. The Chief Secretary will issue a notification in this regard in the afternoon,” the Chief Minister said.
It is worth noting that the police of Halisahar police station arrested Birju Keot, the husband of former Trinamool Congress councillor of Kanchrapara Municipality, on various charges, including extortion. He was also produced in court on Friday.
The judge ordered his five-day police custody, but on Saturday, it was learnt that the husband of Jenny Sharma Keot, the former Trinamool councillor of ward number 23 of Kanchrapara Municipality, died in police custody. Jenny alleged that her husband died after being beaten up by the police inside the lock up.
On Sunday, former Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee went to Kanchrapara to meet Jenny’s family. She was accompanied by Lok Sabha MP Kalyan Banerjee and Rajya Sabha MP Dola Sen. However, she faced protests on the way.
It is alleged that shoes and mud were hurled at her vehicle. Mamata claimed that BJP-backed miscreants were responsible for the act. Bricks and stones were also thrown at the car. Mamata claimed that had the windows been open, she could have suffered a head injury or even lost her life.
–IANS
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