Kolkata, Oct. 16 -- Tension gripped the Dubrajpur area of Birbhum district after a 35-year-old man, identified as Barjahan Shah, died under mysterious circumstances following his detention by law enforcement.
The incident, which took place during the ongoing Durga Puja festivities on Thursday, sparked widespread public outrage, culminating in violent clashes and an hours-long blockade on National Highway 14 (NH-14).
Shah was reportedly picked up by the cops of Dubrajpur Police Station on suspicion of being a thief while he was being manhandled by a group of people. His wife, Azmira Bibi, alleged that her husband was brutally tortured inside the police station. Family members claimed they saw Shah in an unresponsive state with severe injury marks before he was rushed to the Dubrajpur Rural Hospital, where he was declared dead.
Rejecting the allegations of custodial torture, senior police officials maintained that the deceased was a victim of public fury rather than police brutality. The police reportedly claimed he was assaulted by the mob before a police team rescued him. Authorities stated that he was taken to the hospital after his health deteriorated post-rescue.
The news of the death triggered fury among locals. Hundreds of angry residents surrounded the Dubrajpur police station, demanding the immediate release of internal CCTV footage. Protesters later placed the victim's body on the Raniganj-Moregram National Highway, bringing traffic to a complete standstill for several hours. However, a large contingent of police force intervened following which a blockade was withdrawn.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.