Two policemen arrested in Bengal student leader's death case: CM Mamata Banerjee

During an event at state secretariat Nabanna, Mamata Banerjee said a Special Investigation Team (SIT) has been probing the matter while the SIT have arrested two policemen in connection with the case.

"An investigation is underway, and two policemen have been held. Their involvement with the incident is yet to be established," said Mamata Banerjee, adding that "law will take its own course."

The Chief Minister alleged that family members of the student leader were not cooperating with the SIT.

West Bengal DGP Manoj Malaviya, during a press conference at state police headquarters in Kolkata's Bhabani Bhaban, on Wednesday evening said the SIT has arrested two persons, including homeguard Kashinath Bera and civic volunteer Pritam Bhattacharya, in connection with case.

A day after beginning probe, the SIT on Tuesday demoralized homeguard Kashinath Bera from duty and suspended two more cops — ASI Nirmal Das and constable Jitendra Hembram — for "negligence of duty".

The trio was reportedly on night patrol duty in the area where Anish Khan's house is located when the student leader's unnatural and mysterious death occurred.

The DGP also alleged a non-cooperation by Anish Khan's family.

"Our SIT is being obstructed from carrying out its investigation and Anish's family members are not cooperating with the police," DGP Malaviya said.

"They did not hand over Anish Khan's phone to SIT, and when police had asked the family to conduct autopsy of Anish's body for the second time in presence of magistrate, they did not allow the officers to do this," Malaviya said.

"I would request to cooperate with the SIT that we can reach to a conclusion and explain exactly what happened that night within 15 days," the IPS officer added.

The DGP said action will be taken against those whose involvement will be established in the case.

Earlier on Friday (Feb 18) midnight, Anish Khan, a student of Kolkata's Aliah University who was one of the faces of anti-CAA and anti-NRC protests in the city two years ago, died after being pushed off the roof of his own house allegedly by four people who introduced themselves as policemen.

Family members of the 28-year-old student leader claimed three of the four policemen were wearing the uniform of civic volunteers, and one was wearing the state police's uniform and he was carrying a firearm like a police officer.

"They said they were from Amta Police Station and wanted to talk to Anish in connection with an old case registered with Bagnan Police Station," Anish Khan's elder brother said.

"The man wearing the state police's uniform was with us and threatened us showing his firearm not to interfere in their investigation, while the  three others in civic volunteer uniforms forcibly took Anish to the roof and then we heard a loud sound," he added.

After the four men left the house, Anish's family members found his body lying in a pool of blood beside their house.

Officials at Amta PS, earlier, claimed that no policeman from the police station had visited the student leader's house that night in connection with any investigation.

Demanding CBI investigation into the case, Anish Khan's family said they do not have any trust on state police probe, and they will hand over Anish's mobile phone to either CBI or the High Court.

"If the CBI conduct autopsy of Anish's body, we will allow that," Anish Khan's father, who had rejected Mamata Banerjee's job offer days ago, said.

Meanwhile, Anish's elder brother alleged he received a call from an unknown number on Tuesday late night where the caller had threatened to "destroy the Khan family" if they keep demanding CBI probe.

According to reports, Anish Khan, who was involved with Left-wing politics for a long time, recently joined the Indian Secular Front (ISF), though Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee claimed Anish had helped her Trinamool Congress (TMC) a lot during the 2021 assembly polls in the state.

Dismissing Mamata's claim,  his father said Anish was never attached with TMC.

"If Anish had helped the TMC, he would have not been killed this way," he said.

Aliah University students and activists of Left student wings held separate protest rallies in Kolkata demanding "justice for Anish".

Meanwhile, Howrah Rural SP Soumya Roy said there was a case against Anish registered at Bagnan PS under POCSO (Protection of Children from Sexual Offences) Act.