Victims of Murshidabad riots allege police broke doors, forcibly barged inside their premises

In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Parul Das wife of Hargobind Das and Pinki Das wife of Chandan Das sought protection and deployment of appropriate central forces for their safety.
| Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI

The family members of victims of Murshidabad riots on Sunday (May 4, 2025) alleged that personnel of Bidhannagar City Police forcibly broke open the doors and entered a premises in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area where they were staying. 

In a letter addressed to the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court, Parul Das wife of Hargobind Das and Pinki Das wife of Chandan Das sought protection and deployment of appropriate central forces for their safety. The family is in Kolkata to file a petition demanding probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation in the murders before the Calcutta High Court

Hargobind Das and Chandan Das ( father and son) were lynched to death by a mob in Jafrabad in Murshidabad district on April 12 . The family has refused compensation from the West Bengal government.

“There were at least 40 uniformed police personnel and that apart there were several police personnel in plain clothes. They started shouting, threatening and hurling abuses and despite us saying that we will not open the door, in a fit of rage they broke open the doors, damaged the property and barged inside the house where we were camping,” the letter signed by Parul Das and Pinki Das read.

The women survivors of Murshidabad riots said that they were “left shaken and traumatized by the brazen conduct of the officers involved,” who “harassed and attempted to intimidate us in clear abuse of their authority”.

There was commotion after the police entered as the counsel of the family members Suryaneel Das reached the spot and started asking questions about the police “excesses”

The police personnel of Bidhannagar City Police cited was a complaint of kidnapping purportedly filed by Samartho Das, son of the late Hargobindo Das andadded the police breaking into the premises was as per law.

BJP leaders including Sajal Ghosh reached the spot and wanted to know the reason for the police action. Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari also highlighted the incident on social media and added that trust of the family cannot be achieved through force or suppression but through accountability, and empathy.

“The reported actions of the Kolkata/Bidhannagar Police, allegedly breaking into a guest house where the grieving family was staying and attempting to forcibly remove them, are deeply disturbing and warrant strong condemnation. Such heavy-handed tactics, are affront to justice and compassion, especially for a family seeking legal recourse through the Calcutta High Court for a CBI enquiry into their loved ones’ deaths,” Mr. Adhikari said.

The development comes days before Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is visiting Murshidabad district, the first time after the communal flare up. Three persons had died and hundreds of people were rendered homeless in the violence at Dhulian and Samserganj on April 11 and April 12. A total of 138 FIRs have been lodged and the total number of arrests for the overall violence has crossed 300. The State government has identified about 109 houses that were destroyed in the violence