Custodial death of accused-witness in WB violance 'serious lapse' in police system

By Kirity Roy*
The prime accused of the Bogtui massacre in Birbhum died in CBI custody on December 12. His body was found hanging in the CBI camp washroom at Rampurhat. This sudden incident in the Bogtui case hints towards a possible conspiracy on the part of the investigating authority.
Lalon Sheikh was one of prime accused and a witness in the horrendous massacre at Bogtui village, near Rampurhat of Birbhum district in West Bengal, which took place on March 21, 2022. To suppress all the kingpins of the racket of trafficking and money laundering cases, where many leaders of political parties, law enforcing agencies are involved, the victim's voice was throttled, I apprehend. This is not the first of its kind incident. The cases of "suicides" in custody have happened several times in the past.

The death of Lalon in custody not only points toward possible violation, it will also weaken the case against many high-profile accused in the case. These cases of suicides particularly in the high-profile criminal cases raises a number of questions and demands on the criminal justice system in India:
1. The section 176(1) of CrPC specifies the procedure in case of custodial deaths. The police of West Bengal have seemed to be ignoring the section as a whole. But the current case was in the hands of the CBI. We demand that the CBI and the local administration must adhere to the legal provisions in the cases of custodial deaths.

2. Though the incident occurred in the custody of CBI, it was the Kolkata High Court, which passed the case to CBI in an exceptional way. Thus, in case of any violation the Court too should be held liable, and necessary steps must be taken. Unnatural death in judicial custody should be investigated thoroughly and independently.
3. In India, the implementation of the Minnesota Protocol and Istanbul Protocol is scarce. Necessary steps should be taken for the implementation of the same during the Post-mortem examination of the bodies in case of custodial deaths.

4. Investigating authority should abide by the specific guidelines of NHRC in the cases of custodial deaths and the judicial bodies should pressurize the investigating authorities to do so.
This kind of incident points towards a serious lapse in the policing system in India. Initiative should be taken for police reforms to be undertaken in accordance with the judgment of Prakash Singh case.
These are the questions which are in immediate need to be answered. We urge the concerned authorities to take necessary actions to stop further such incidents, and we demand an independent judicial enquiry in the case of Lalon Sheikh's custodial death to bring out the truth to light.
---
*Secretary, Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM); National Convenor, Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity (PACTI), Hooghly

Comments

Grueling summer ahead: Cuttack’s alarming health trends and what they mean for Odisha

By Sudhansu R Das The preparation to face the summer should begin early in Odisha. People in the state endure long, grueling summer months starting from mid-February and extending until the end of October. This prolonged heat adversely affects productivity, causes deaths and diseases, and impacts agriculture, tourism and the unorganized sector. The social, economic and cultural life of the state remains severely disrupted during the peak heat months.

Stronger India–Russia partnership highlights a missed energy breakthrough

By N.S. Venkataraman* The recent visit of Russian President Vladimir Putin to India was widely publicized across several countries and has attracted significant global attention. The warmth with which Mr. Putin was received by Prime Minister Narendra Modi was particularly noted, prompting policy planners worldwide to examine the implications of this cordial relationship for the global economy and political climate. India–Russia relations have stood on a strong foundation for decades and have consistently withstood geopolitical shifts. This is in marked contrast to India’s ties with the United States, which have experienced fluctuations under different U.S. administrations.

From natural farming to fair prices: Young entrepreneurs show a new path

By Bharat Dogra There have been frequent debates on agro-business companies not showing adequate concern for the livelihoods of small farmers. Farmers’ unions have often protested—generally with good reason—that while they do not receive fair returns despite high risks and hard work, corporate interests that merely process the crops produced by farmers earn disproportionately high profits. Hence, there is a growing demand for alternative models of agro-business development that demonstrate genuine commitment to protecting farmer livelihoods.

The Vande Mataram debate and the politics of manufactured controversy

By Vidya Bhushan Rawat* The recent Vande Mataram debate in Parliament was never meant to foster genuine dialogue. Each political party spoke past the other, addressing its own constituency, ensuring that clips went viral rather than contributing to meaningful deliberation. The objective was clear: to construct a Hindutva narrative ahead of the Bengal elections. Predictably, the Lok Sabha will likely expunge the opposition’s “controversial” remarks while retaining blatant inaccuracies voiced by ministers and ruling-party members. The BJP has mastered the art of inserting distortions into parliamentary records to provide them with a veneer of historical legitimacy.

A comrade in culture and controversy: Yao Wenyuan’s revolutionary legacy

By Harsh Thakor* This year marks two important anniversaries in Chinese revolutionary history—the 20th death anniversary of Yao Wenyuan, and the 50th anniversary of his seminal essay "On the Social Basis of the Lin Biao Anti-Party Clique". These milestones invite reflection on the man whose pen ignited the first sparks of the Great Proletarian Cultural Revolution and whose sharp ideological interventions left an indelible imprint on the political and cultural landscape of socialist China.

The cost of being Indian: How inequality and market logic redefine rights

By Vikas Gupta We, the people of India, are engaged in a daily tryst—read: struggle—for basic human rights. For the seemingly well-to-do, the wish list includes constant water supply, clean air, safe roads, punctual public transportation, and crime-free neighbourhoods. For those further down the ladder, the struggle is starker: food that fills the stomach, water that doesn’t sicken, medicines that don’t kill, houses that don’t flood, habitats at safe distances from polluted streams or garbage piles, and exploitation-free environments in the public institutions they are compelled to navigate.

Why India must urgently strengthen its policies for an ageing population

By Bharat Dogra A quiet but far-reaching demographic transformation is reshaping much of the world. As life expectancy rises and birth rates fall, societies are witnessing a rapid increase in the proportion of older people. This shift has profound implications for public policy, and the need to strengthen frameworks for healthy and secure ageing has never been more urgent. India is among the countries where these pressures will intensify most sharply in the coming decades.

Thota Sitaramaiah: An internal pillar of an underground organisation

By Harsh Thakor* Thota Sitaramaiah was regarded within his circles as an example of the many individuals whose work in various underground movements remained largely unknown to the wider public. While some leaders become visible through organisational roles or media attention, many others contribute quietly, without public recognition. Sitaramaiah was considered one such figure. He passed away on December 8, 2025, at the age of 65.

Proposals for Babri Masjid, Ram Temple spark fears of polarisation before West Bengal polls

By A Representative A political debate has emerged in West Bengal following recent announcements about plans for new religious structures in Murshidabad district, including a proposed mosque to be named Babri Masjid and a separate announcement by a BJP leader regarding the construction of a Ram temple in another location within Behrampur.

Search This Blog