West Bengal Police has filed a murder case against CBI officials over the death of an accused in the Birbhum violence case in the custody of the central agency. Lalan Sheikh, one of the accused in the violence, where 10 people lost their lives, died by suicide on Monday. Lalan’s body reached his village, Bogtui in West Bengal’s Birbhum, on Wednesday.
The prime accused in the arson and violence in Bengal’s Bogtui village, which had in March claimed at least 10 lives, was found hanging on Monday in a temporary office of the CBI, a source in the central agency said.
Lalan Sheikh, arrested earlier this month from a hideout along the Bengal-Jharkhand border, died by hanging himself with a ‘gamcha’ (thin cotton towel) in the washroom of the office that the agency has set up in a guest house in Rampurhat area of Birbhu, district, the source said.
His family members, however, alleged that his “death resulted from the torture” that he was subjected to in CBI custody.
“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, CBI sources had said.
“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,” news agency PTI quoted the sources as saying.
The accused, following his arrest, was initially remanded in CBI custody for six days, and it was later extended by three more days, the CBI source said.
CID-CBI Tussle as Deceased’s Wife Makes Big Allegations Against Central Agency
Lalan Sheikh’s wife lodged an FIR against CBI officers in which she claimed that CBI officers have asked for Rs 50 lakh to settle the case.
Lalan Sheikh’s death has also sparked a war of words between Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) and also brought the CBI and Bengal Police to loggerheads – a tussle that was seen when the central agency came for then Kolkata police commissioner Rajiv Kumar in the Saradha chit fund scam, and even in the cattle and coal smuggling case in which both the camps were seen investigating same scandal.
Lalan Sheikh’s wife Reshma Bibi in her complaint, a copy of which is News18 has accessed, alleging that her husband has been tortured by CBI officers. She mentioned in her complaint that the officers took Lalan to their house and were asking for a hard disk and also added that she feels that her husband was pressured to name big people in this case .
Her complaint levelled serious allegations at CBI officers, including the mention of a Rs 50 lakh bribe that she said officers asked for from her to settle the case.
Sources in CID said, “A complaint has been lodged by the wife of the deceased at Rampurhat PS which has been treated as FIR by the PS. Sections in FIR are based on the allegation of offences raised in the complaint”.
As of now, this case has been initiated under these sections of law and investigation and collection of evidence will reveal the facts of the case, sources said.
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