West Bengal Police have announced the arrest of three individuals linked to the murder of a minor girl, Tamanna Khatun, in Kaliganj, Nadia district, last June. This brings the total number of arrests in the case to 16. Notably, five arrests were made within the last 24 hours, with two absconding suspects, Sabit Sheikh and Ziarul Sheikh, apprehended on Tuesday night. Subsequently, three more absconding suspects, Ismail Sheikh, Hafizul Sheikh, and Minarul Sheikh, were arrested between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.
According to a state police official, the trio was captured in Gurugram, Haryana, after fleeing there when the police initiated investigations into the child’s murder. They are currently being transported back to Kolkata on transit remand and will appear in a Nadia district court later today. The state police officer mentioned that the public prosecutor will request their police custody.
The minor girl, a member of a CPI(M) supporter family from Kaliganj, Nadia district, was tragically killed in an explosion on June 23 last year. The incident occurred on the same day the bypoll results for Kaliganj Assembly Constituency were declared, with the Trinamool Congress candidate, Alifa Ahmed, securing a significant victory. Allegedly, some Trinamool Congress activists threw crude bombs at the girl’s residence during a celebratory procession, resulting in Tamanna Khatun’s death.
Tamanna’s mother, Sabina Iyasmin Sheikh, contested as a CPI(M) candidate in the recent West Bengal Assembly polls from Kaliganj but was defeated by Trinamool Congress’ Alifa Ahmed. Notably, West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari met with Tamanna’s mother on Tuesday evening, assuring her of justice. Following this meeting, the police swiftly acted, leading to the arrest of five individuals within 24 hours.
