The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of West Bengal Police has filed a 983-page chargesheet against 13 individuals in connection with the double murder of Hargobindo Das and Chandan Das in Murshidabad's Jafarabad. The father and son were killed during communal violence that erupted in April 2025 following protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act.
The investigation into the Murshidabad double murder case has been ongoing since the violent events that took place in April. The violence was triggered by protests against amendments to the Waqf Act. In the wake of the unrest, the West Bengal Police formed a Special Investigation Team to probe the murders of Hargobindo Das and Chandan Das and bring the perpetrators to justice.
In the weeks following the incident, several arrests were made. Among those apprehended were Ajfarul Sheikh and Monirul Sheikh. Authorities believed these arrests to be crucial breakthroughs in the case, particularly after the capture of Ziaul Sheikh, who was considered a mastermind behind the violence. Ajfarul Sheikh was apprehended from his hideout near Jamshedpur and was allegedly involved in the attack on both Harogabindo Das and Chandan Das, reportedly inflicting multiple wounds with a chopper. Monirul Sheikh, along with Ziaul, was allegedly seen leading the mob that stormed the Das residence.
Earlier arrests included Kalu Nadar, Dildar, and Inzamam Ul Haque. Fekarul Sk was also arrested, identified through CCTV footage as leading the mob into the victims' house.
ADG (law & order) Jawed Shamim stated the authorities' aim to gather substantial evidence for a timely charge sheet. Raids were conducted across multiple districts in West Bengal, as well as in Odisha and Jharkhand, in connection with the investigation.
The political atmosphere surrounding the investigation has been charged. Following the initial violence in April, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee appealed for peace and alleged that the BJP and RSS were exploiting the situation to create communal divisions. BJP leaders have strongly contested these claims, accusing Banerjee's administration of failing to prevent the violence and engaging in a false campaign against the BJP.
