Custodial death in West Bengal: Suicide? Girl 'may have been tortured', NHRC told

By A Representative
Bringing to light the custodial death of a young girl belonging to the Other Backward Class community in the Hemtabad Police Station, a senior human rights activist has complained to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) chairperson that the incident "proves" that the police personnel "are enjoying full impunity after causing the death of the victim."
Basing on a preliminary fact-finding report over this custodial death, Kirity Roy, secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), said, the girl, Sima Nasrin, daughter of Shah Alam, residing at village Bagidanga, PO Madhabpur, PS. Kaliaganj, was a student of class XI of the Bangalbari High School.
She was arrested by a team of police personnel of Hemtabad Police Station. Even after arresting the victim, no family members were informed. She was kept in police lock up. She later died in custody, said Roy, adding, the root of the incident was, she was in love with Safran Ali, 17, son of Talibul Ali, residing at Beltor village under Hemtabad Police Station.
According to Roy, family members of girl claim, Safran seduced the girl and ran away from the house on October 20. In the morning, the maternal uncle of Safran called the girl's family, threatening, if they would not take their daughter, she would be done to death.
Meanwhile, said Roy, family members of Safran informed the police personnel of Hemtabad Police Station. One woman police constable, three male civic volunteers and one male sub-inspector "apprehended" the girl and "took her to their custody by car." However, the police did not inform the girl's family about her arrest.
According to the police, at about 12 noon the girl committed suicide in the bathroom of the police lockup. After the incident at about 1 pm the police personnel took the injured girl to the Hemtabad Hospital where the on-duty doctor declared her brought dead.
"It is most interesting that the victim was declared dead at 1 pm but the family members of the victim were not informed. In the afternoon at about 4.30 pm Kaliaganj police informed the family members of the victim regarding her death", Roy said, adding, worse, "for more than 20 hours the family members of the victim were not permitted to see the body."
Calling it "custodial death", Roy said, the inquest report of the deceased, obtained from the Raiganj Government Medical College Hospital and Morgue suggested, there were "reddish injury marks all over the back and right hand and right leg", which shows the victim may have been "tortured before death".
Claimed Roy, "The victim girl's family is under serious threat now. Political leaders of ruling party, including MLA, Panchayat members and police of Kaliyaganj PS and senior officers are stationed at her house. Proposals of money and government service are being offered to stop complaint against police."

Comments

The soundtrack of resistance: How 'Sada Sada Ya Nabi' is fueling the Iran war

By Syed Ali Mujtaba* The Persian track “ Sada Sada Ya Nabi ye ” by Hossein Sotoodeh has taken the world by storm. This viral media has cut across linguistic barriers to achieve cult status, reaching over 10 million views. The electrifying music and passionate rendition by the Iranian singer have resonated across the globe, particularly as the high-intensity military conflict involving Iran entered its second month in March 2026.

Kolkata dialogue flags policy and finance deficit in wetland sustainability

By A Representative Wetlands were the focus of India–Germany climate talks in Kolkata, where experts from government, business, and civil society stressed both their ecological importance and the urgent need for stronger conservation frameworks.

Beyond Lata: How Asha Bhosle redefined the female voice with her underrated versatility

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The news of iconic Asha Bhosle’s ‘untimely’ demise has shocked music lovers across the country. Asha Tai was 92 years young. Normally, people celebrate a passing at this age, but Asha Bhosle—much like another legend, Dev Anand—never made us feel she was growing old. She was perhaps the most versatile artist in Bombay cinema. Hailing from a family devoted to music, Asha’s journey to success and fame was not easy. Her elder sister, Lata Mangeshkar, had already become the voice of women in cinema, and most contemporaries like Shamshad Begum, Suraiya, and Noor Jehan had slowly faded into oblivion. Frankly, there was no second or third to Lata Mangeshkar; she became the first—and perhaps the only—choice for music directors and all those who mattered in filmmaking. Asha started her musical journey at age 10 with a Marathi film, but her first break in Hindustani cinema came with the film "Chunariya" (1948). Though she was not the first choice of ...

Maoist activity in India: Weakening structures, 'shifts' in leadership, strategy and ideology

By Harsh Thakor* Recent statements by government representatives have suggested that Maoism in India has been effectively eliminated, citing the weakening of central leadership and intensified security operations. These claims follow sustained counterinsurgency efforts across key regions, including central and eastern India. However, available information from security agencies and independent observers indicates that while the organizational structure of the CPI (Maoist) has been significantly disrupted, elements of the movement remain active. Reports acknowledge the continued presence of cadres in certain forested regions such as Bastar and parts of Dandakaranya, alongside smaller, decentralized units adapting their operational strategies.

From Manesar to Noida: Workers take to streets for bread, media looks away

By Sunil Kumar* Across several states in India, a workers’ movement is gathering momentum. This is not a movement born of luxury or ambition, nor a demand for power-sharing within the state. At its core lies a stark and basic plea: the right to survive with dignity—adequate food, and wages sufficient to afford it.

Midnight weeping: The sociology of tragic vision in Badri Narayan’s poetry

By Ravi Ranjan* Badri Narayan, a distinguished Hindi poet and social scientist, occupies a unique position in contemporary Indian intellectual life by bridging the worlds of creative literature and critical social inquiry. His poetic journey began significantly with the 1993 collection 'Saca Sune Hue Kaï Dina Hue' (Truth Heard Many Days Ago). As a social historian and cultural anthropologist, Narayan pioneered a methodological shift away from elite archives toward the oral traditions and folk myths of marginalized communities. He eventually legitimized "folk-ethnography" as a rigorous academic discipline during his tenure as Director of the G.B. Pant Social Science Institute.

Why link women’s reservation to delimitation? The unspoken political calculus

By Vikas Meshram* April 16, 2026, is likely to be recorded as a special day in the history of Indian democracy. In a three-day special session of Parliament, the central government is set to introduce a comprehensive package of three historic bills: the Constitution (131st Amendment) Bill, 2026; the Delimitation Bill, 2026; and the Union Territories Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2026. The stated purpose of all three is the same: to implement the Nari Shakti Vandan Adhiniyam (106th Constitutional Amendment) passed in 2023. However, the political intent concealed behind these measures — and their impact on the federal balance — is far more profound. It is absolutely essential to understand this.

Catholic union opposes FCRA amendments, warns of threat to Church institutions

By A Representative The All India Catholic Union (AICU) has raised serious concerns over what it describes as growing threats to religious freedom, minority rights, and constitutional safeguards in India, warning that recent policy and legislative trends could undermine the country’s secular and federal framework.

'It's power grab, not reform': Uttarakhand hills fear marginalization under new delimitation

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The proposed delimitation bill, coupled with the women’s reservation bill, is a calculated attempt to divert attention during state elections while laying the groundwork for long-term power consolidation through a north Indian hegemony. India’s constitution-making process was arduous, but it was guided by leaders deeply committed to unity and integrity. They ensured no community felt betrayed, and the foundation of modern India was laid on inclusivity. Any attempt to alter this balance must be approached with caution and respect for that legacy.

Search This Blog