West Bengal Forms SIT to Investigate Controversial Encounter in Samserganj

Kolkata, November 4 (Daily Kiran) : West Bengal police have established a five-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) to probe the police encounter that resulted in the death of murder suspect Samiul Sheikh in Samserganj, Murshidabad, on October 27. The decision to form the SIT followed directives from the state government, confirmed Ajit Singh Yadav, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of the Murshidabad range.

The official notification regarding the SIT’s formation was released prior to its establishment. The team will be led by Debyendu Tamang, the Sub-Divisional Police Officer of Samserganj. The other members include Swaroop Biswas, Abhijit Sarkar, Nilesh Chandra Sarkar, and Mithun Halder. Biswas holds the rank of Inspector, while the others are Sub-Inspectors.

According to police reports, Samiul Sheikh was one of three suspects in the murder of local BJP leader Sujit Mandal. He was taken to the crime scene for reenactment when he allegedly attempted to escape by snatching a weapon from an escorting officer. The police claim that Sheikh fired multiple rounds at the officers, prompting an inspector on the scene to return fire, resulting in Sheikh’s death.

Sujit Mandal, a resident of the Old Dak Bungalow area in Samserganj, went missing on August 28, with his mutilated body later discovered. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari stated that Mandal had been murdered with a meat cleaver.

Following the incident, three suspects were arrested, including Samiul Sheikh, Tajkira Bibi, and Johnny Sheikh. Sheikh was killed in the encounter, while allegations of police negligence arose. Mandal’s wife, Sumana Mandal, claimed that despite repeatedly visiting the local police station after her husband’s disappearance, she received no assistance.

In the wake of this incident, several police officers faced disciplinary actions, including suspensions, transfers, and departmental inquiries. The Chief Minister referred to the situation as a “grave error.”