Accused in BJP Worker’s Murder Killed in Police Encounter in West Bengal

An accused in the murder of a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker was shot dead in a police encounter in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district, marking the second such incident in the state within 12 hours. The accused, identified as Samaul Sheikh, allegedly attempted to escape from police custody after snatching a firearm from an officer while being taken to the crime scene for investigation, according to police officials.

Sheikh was allegedly involved in the murder of BJP worker Sujit Mondal, whose disappearance and subsequent death triggered controversy and raised questions about the handling of the case by local police. Officials said the accused was being taken to a location connected with the crime to help investigators reconstruct the sequence of events when the incident occurred.

According to the police account, Sheikh allegedly seized a service weapon from one of the officers accompanying him and attempted to flee. The police personnel responded by opening fire, injuring him critically. He was subsequently taken to a hospital, where doctors declared him dead.

The incident comes amid heightened attention surrounding the investigation into Mondal’s murder. The BJP worker had gone missing in August, and parts of his dismembered body were recovered later. The discovery prompted an investigation into the circumstances surrounding his disappearance and death.

The case also drew scrutiny over the conduct of the local police. Following allegations of negligence in handling the investigation, the probe was transferred to the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of West Bengal Police. Disciplinary action was also initiated against several police personnel in connection with the case.

The killing of Sheikh in the encounter is likely to intensify debate over police procedures and the circumstances in which accused persons are shot while in custody. While the police have described the incident as a response to an alleged attempt to escape, further details about the sequence of events and the investigation into the encounter remain important to establishing the full circumstances.

The episode was the second reported police encounter in West Bengal within 12 hours. Earlier, another accused in a separate rape and murder case was killed in a police encounter in North 24 Parganas district. The two incidents have drawn attention to the use of force by the state police during investigations into serious criminal cases.

The developments have also added to the political sensitivity surrounding law and order in West Bengal, where allegations of violence involving political workers have frequently become subjects of confrontation between the ruling establishment and opposition parties.