Murshidabad communal violence: 13 named in chargesheet for murder of father, son

The West Bengal Police have named 13 people on their chargesheet in connection with the father-son double murder case during West Bengal's anti-Waqf law protests in April this year, a police official said.

Haragobindo Das, 74, and his son Chandan Das, 40, were hacked to death in the communal violence that broke out in Murshidabad district. The incident took place in the Shamshergunj area, following Friday prayers.

As per police reports, the father and the son were dragged out of their house in Betbona village after miscreants managed to force open the main door. They were attacked with an axe in broad daylight as a man stood guard.

A High Court-monitored fact-finding team has pointed fingers at local Trinamool Congress leader Mehboob Alam, ex-chairman of the Dhuliyan Municipality, in connection with the attack on father and son.

The accused have been charged with rioting, forcibly breaking into a house, murder committed by a group of more than five people, and illegal possession of arms and ammunition.

The riots, which lasted from April 8 to 12, left three dead, several injured, and hundreds fleeing their homes to the neighbouring Malda district.

In the wake of the disturbance that saw attacks on police, government, and private property, the Calcutta High Court ordered the deployment of paramilitary forces to rein in the situation, which had spiraled out of control.

"We have submitted the charge sheet before the district court within 55 days of the crime and have named 13 people in it," an official was quoted by news agency PTI as saying.

As many as 300 people were arrested in connection with the violence with over 60 FIRs filed across various police stations in the violence-hit district of Murshidabad.

Inputs from Rajesh Saha and agencies