West Bengal: Birbhum Violence Accused ‘Dies by Suicide’ in CBI Custody; Family Alleges Torture

Leaders across political parties have asked for a probe into the case.

New Delhi: An accused in the arson and violence in Bengal’s Bogtui village, which had in March claimed at least 10 lives, was found dead on Monday in a temporary Central Bureau of Investigation office. Lalan Sheikh, arrested earlier this month from a hideout along the Bengal-Jharkhand border, was reportedly found hanging in the washroom of the office that the agency has set up in a guest house in Rampurhat area of Birbhum district. The agency has claimed that Sheikh died by suicide. His family members, however, alleged that his “death resulted from the torture” that he was subjected to in CBI custody. Talking to PTI, the CBI source said, “Sheikh was found hanging in the washroom of the guest house, where we have set up our temporary camp, around 4.30 pm. The two investigating officers (IOs) of the case were in the court at that time. One CRPF constable was outside the washroom, but the accused, despite his presence, managed to die by suicide. We have informed the police and the National Human Rights Commission of India about the incident. All necessary procedures are being followed.” The accused, following his arrest, was initially remanded in CBI custody for six days, and it was later extended by three more days. Claiming that Sheikh was “severely beaten up” in CBI custody, family members of Sheikh have sought a probe into the matter. “My brother was brought to our village a few days ago (as part of the probe) and he told us that CBI officers had been beating him up in custody. He was scared of dying. We want action against the CBI officers who are responsible for my brother’s death,” Sheikh’s elder sister told reporters. Birbhum superintendent of police Nagendra Tripathi said, according to NDTV, “I received information from the CBI DIG’s office that Lalon Sheikh, whose interrogation was going on has died. We have started the procedure that is followed in such cases. They informed the local police station around 4:40PM and around 5:00PM, I was informed. It is a UD case. UD case means unnatural death and the local police station will start an investigation.” “The procedure includes a magisterial inquest and a postmortem. That will be how the cause of death will be determined. It’s too early to say anything. There are NHRC and Supreme Court guidelines on unnatural custodial deaths and we will follow them. The CBI informed us and told us it is a death due to hanging,” Tripathi continued. Sheikh’s body will be taken for a post-mortem to Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital, the channel reported. Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress spokesperson Kunal Ghosh, taunting opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari, sought to know if this was the “big revelation” that he was talking about. Adhikari had last week asked people to “wait and see what happens on December 12, 14 and 21”, refusing to divulge further details. “Suvendu had been saying that he will reveal something big on December 12. Is this the big thing he was talking about? Today an important person in the investigation died in CBI custody. There are many skilled officers in CBI. Why did it happen? Was the accused killed?” Ghosh said. BJP leader Rahul Sinha also demanded a neutral investigation into the case. “There must be an investigation. We want to know if there was any conspiracy involved to protect a bigger culprit behind the Bogtui massacre,” Sinha told PTI. CPI(M) leader Sujan Chakraborty, too, demanded an answer from the CBI over the custodial death. “The CBI took nine months to arrest the prime accused, and now he died in its custody. The CBI is answerable for this. There must be a judicial probe into the death. Is it a truly a suicide or a murder?” Chakraborty told PTI. At least 10 people were killed in the arson and violence that followed the murder of local TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh on March 21. The CBI is probing the case on the orders of the Calcutta high court. (With PTI inputs)

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