3 days Ago By Smitha N
Berhampore: The aftermath of the brutal killings of Harogobinda Das (70) and his son Chandan Das (40) in Murshidabad’s Zafrabad village continues to stir shock and outrage. Their widows have refused to accept the compensation offered by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, instead demanding the establishment of a permanent Border Security Force (BSF) and police camp in the village to ensure residents' safety. Both father and son were hacked to death in broad daylight on April 13 by an armed mob during protests allegedly linked to a Waqf-related dispute.
The horrific incident has left the village reeling under fear, with even religious and social customs being disrupted. The victims’ families were unable to conduct the traditional “Shraddha” ceremony properly, as local priests and barbers refused to attend due to fear. “We could only manage to perform a kirtan for their peace.
According to tradition, the ceremony should happen after a three-day gap, but no one came forward to help us,” said Harogobinda’s grieving widow. Chandan Das’s wife, Pinki Das, voiced her anger and sorrow, questioning the role of the state administration. “Can the Chief Minister bring my husband and father-in-law back? If the police had arrived on time, we wouldn't have lost them.
We want justice and exemplary punishment for the killers,” she said. Former Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and ex-MP from Berhampore, Adhir Chowdhury, condemned the prevailing climate of fear. “People are panicked.
Even priests and barbers are afraid,” he said. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, supported the families’ decision to refuse compensation. “They rightly rejected Mamata Banerjee’s alms.
We have started crowdfunding to support them,” he said. CPIM state secretary Md. Salim added that the party had taken responsibility for the education and upkeep of the victims’ children through public contributions.
Meanwhile, another victim, migrant worker Ejaj Ahmad Sheikh, who succumbed to bullet injuries on April 13 following police firing at Sajur More on NH-12 during the protests, has added to the controversy. His family remains undecided on accepting the Rs 10 lakh compensation. “My brother was only trying to earn a living.
His widow is just 19 and has a small child. First, we heard police shot him, now the Chief Minister says BSF did. We want a proper inquiry and punishment for the killers,” said his elder brother Sahjahan Sheikh.
Amid the tension, relief efforts are underway. The Ramakrishna Mission and Bharat Sevashram Sangha have been distributing cooked food, clothes, and baby supplies to displaced families at the Parlalpur High School relief centre in Vaishnavnagar, Malda. At least 52 infants and 355 elderly persons from Dhuliyan and neighbouring areas of Samserganj are currently sheltered there, unwilling to return to their violence-hit homes.
The situation remains tense, with calls growing louder for justice, security, and accountability in Murshidabad..
