Bengal: Police Intimidation Alleged in Tamanna Khatun Murder Case

The police have allegedly launched attacks on the neighbours of Tamanna Khatun in an apparent attempt to shield the killers of the 10-year-old girl, who was brutally murdered a month ago, from being prosecuted, and to prevent witnesses from testifying in court.

These actions seem aimed at creating an atmosphere of fear in Kaliganj, Nadia District, West Bengal. However, residents have not been intimidated. On the contrary, the police crackdown has sparked widespread protests. Demonstrators are voicing their determination, declaring, “We will see the end of murderous politics.”

On June 23, exactly a month ago, following the Trinamool Congress's (TMC) victory in the Kaliganj Assembly constituency bye-election, it is alleged that TMC-affiliated miscreants, in a drunken celebration of their win, threw a bomb at Tamanna Khatun. Tamanna, a 10-year-old student in the fourth grade from Molandi village, was killed instantly. Her father, Hossain Sheikh, is a migrant labourer and a supporter of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) or CPI(M). The incident sparked state-wide outrage, with people demanding the arrest and strict punishment of the perpetrators. Residents of Molandi village continue their protests, calling for the arrest of all individuals named in the FIR, demanding justice for Tamanna.

Recently, the police allegedly escalated efforts to intimidate witnesses and demoralise Tamanna's family. From the night of July 22 to early morning of July 23, police personnel reportedly carried out a violent raid in Molandi village. This incident is reminiscent of the case of Anis Khan, a student protester from Aliah University, who was allegedly killed during a police raid in his house at Aamta of Howrah district three years ago.

Under the leadership of Ibabul Rahaman, in-charge of the Molandi police outpost, officers allegedly launched a brutal midnight assault on the homes of Tamanna’s neighbours. Women and children were not spared. Two individuals—Id Mohammad Sheikh and Saddam Hossain—who had participated in protests following Tamanna’s death, were reportedly arrested.

According to Sabina Sheikh, Tamanna’s mother, "A team from the Kaliganj Police Station raided the homes of three neighbouring families at midnight, assaulted men, women, and children, and arrested two individuals." She claimed that the police had been threatening witnesses ever since public calls for justice grew louder, terming the raid as a “deliberate attempt to suppress dissent and force witnesses to retract their statements.”

West Bengal Migrant Workers Union organised a protest march on Wednesday, demanding justice for Tamanna and against the brutal attack on Tamanna's neighbours' houses.

What Happened in Molandi on Tuesday Midnight?

At around midnight on Tuesday, five police vans, led by Idadul Rahaman from the Mira Police Outpost under Kaliganj Police Station, surrounded the Purbopara area of Molandi village. Officers reportedly climbed over walls to forcibly enter the homes of Zahir Sheikh (alias Badsa), Id Mohammad Sheikh, and Saddam Sheikh. They allegedly beat the occupants and placed them into police vehicles. According to local residents, including Badsa, Tamanna was killed during a bomb attack allegedly orchestrated by local TMC leaders targeting CPI(M) activists. Residents claim that the late-night police raid was conducted to silence witnesses.

When family members questioned the officers about the charges, the police allegedly responded angrily, saying, “Toder janiye ki hobe?” (“What will happen if we tell you?”). Victims’ families say they are traumatised by the attack. “After midnight, 20 to 22 policemen and uniformed civic volunteers raided our homes. There were no female officers. When we asked why they entered, they beat the men and women indiscriminately,” said Tajmina Sheikh, a housewife from one of the affected families.

She alleged that her 9-year-old daughter, Ziya Khatun, was beaten with sticks and her hair pulled. Women were reportedly assaulted with batons, and some sustained serious injuries. “Even when we fell to the ground crying, the police did not stop. They pulled down women’s nightclothes and molested us,” she alleged. Tajmina further alleged that some officers deliberately touched women's chests and made vulgar remarks. A 9-year-old girl, Sajina Khatun, who witnessed the assault, was also allegedly beaten by the police.

The injured were first taken to Palashi Hospital, then transferred to Krishnanagar District Hospital due to the severity of their injuries. Despite repeated appeals for justice, Sabina Sheikh said, “The police have yet to arrest most of the individuals named in the FIR. Instead, they are harassing witnesses.” She alleged that the police were trying to frame eyewitnesses in false cases to silence them.

On Wednesday afternoon, Sabina Sheikh said she met Amarnath K., Superintendent of Police, Krishnanagar, and lodged a formal complaint, detailing the alleged police brutality. In her written statement, she expressed anger that while most of the accused remained at large, police were targeting those who had spoken out. Taznima Khatun, a relative of arrested Zahir Sheikh, also filed a complaint against the police, accusing them of violence and abuse toward women and children during the raid. Senior police officials, however, have dismissed these allegations.

In response to the alleged police actions, the West Bengal Migrant Workers Union, affiliated with the Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU), organised a protest march on Wednesday. Tamanna’s parents, Sabina and Hossain Sheikh, participated and later staged a sit-in outside the SP’s office in Krishnanagar. Uttam Ghosh, Additional Superintendent of Police (Rural), Krishnanagar, stated that Zahir Sheikh (alias Badsa) had been released, while two others remained in custody.

CITU leader Debasis Acharya condemned the police action, saying, “The real culprits behind Tamanna’s murder are being protected, while innocent neighbours are being intimidated. False cases are being filed against CPI(M) workers and supporters. We will launch a full-scale movement against this injustice.”

(Pics by Madhu Sudan Chatterjee)

The writer works for ‘Ganashakti’ newspaper in West Bengal.