Bengal unrest: Prime accused in Murshidabad double murder held in Uttar Dinajpur

The murders occurred amid a spate of violent protests over amendments to the Waqf Act that rocked parts of Murshidabad earlier this month

One of the prime accused in the brutal killing of a father-son duo in violence-hit Murshidabad district of West Bengal has been arrested, police said on Sunday.

The accused, identified as Ziaul Sheikh, a resident of Sulitala Purbapara near Jafrabad, was apprehended on Saturday from his hideout in Chopra, Uttar Dinajpur district. The arrest was made during a joint operation conducted by the West Bengal Police’s Special Task Force (STF) and the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the April 12 killings.

“This person is one of the key conspirators. He instigated a mob that vandalised the residence of Haragobindo Das and his son Chandan Das before murdering them,” a senior police officer told PTI.

Police said Sheikh had been absconding since the day of the incident. Investigators have gathered substantial evidence against him, including CCTV footage and mobile tower location data confirming his presence at the crime scene.

This marks the fourth arrest in the case. Earlier, three others - brothers Kalu Nadar and Dildar, and another accused, Inzmam Ul Haque - were taken into custody. While Kalu was arrested from Murarai in Birbhum district, Dildar was caught near the Bangladesh border under the jurisdiction of Suti Police Station. Inzmam was nabbed from Suripara, another neighbouring village of Jafrabad.

The murders occurred amid a spate of violent protests over amendments to the Waqf Act that rocked parts of Murshidabad earlier this month. At least three people were killed and hundreds displaced during the unrest.

“We have filed over 100 FIRs related to the violence in Murshidabad and arrested 276 individuals so far,” the officer added.