Raiganj, July 26 -- An Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI), Moajjem Hossain, accused of fatally shooting a youth during a police operation in Kaliyaganj, North Dinajpur, in 2023, has been suspended following an announcement by Chief Minister Subhendu Adhikary during the Assembly session on Saturday. The decision brought relief to the family of the deceased, though they demanded stricter legal action and exemplary punishment against the officer.
The incident traces back to April 2023, when a Class IX girl from Gangoa village under Sahebghata in Kaliyaganj was allegedly assaulted and murdered. Her body was recovered from a pond the following day. Alleging police inaction in arresting the prime accused, residents staged a protest near Kaliyaganj police station on April 27, which later turned violent following clashes with police.
Later that night, a police team reportedly went to Radhikapur village to arrest BJP leader Bishnu Barman. During the operation, his nephew, Mritunjay Barman, allegedly objected to the arrest, following which ASI Moajjem Hossain allegedly opened fire, killing him on the spot.
Mrinal Kanti Barman, elder brother of the deceased, welcomed the Chief Minister's decision to suspend the officer but said the action had come too late and said: "My brother had returned from Siliguri to attend a village wedding. He only protested the police action, yet he was shot dead. We want exemplary punishment so that no police officer dares to commit such an act again".
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.