While Bengal’s Chief Minister often endorses the rights of the poor, the Kolkata police are still reluctant to nab anyone in the murder of a jobless worker in Kolkata’s elite Nilratan Sirkar (NRS) Medical College and Hospital, four days after the incident.
The reasons, as explained to The Hindu , by the officials highlight that law keepers are “unsure” about arrests as the college union is controlled by the ruling Trinamool Congress.
The person killed in the case is identified as Korpan Sha (24), a former employee in the zari embroidery industry from Howrah district. According to the locals, residing around the NRS hostel, Sha was lynched by junior doctors of the NRS hostel.
The police, after a public outrage on social media, questioned a student of the hostel. While Deputy Commissioner (DC), East Suburban Division (ESD) of Kolkata Police Dhrubajyoti De has not confirmed the detention, he did confirm that no one has been arrested so far.
“Sha’s wife, Arjina Begum (22), visited the local police station on Thursday and lodged a formal complaint. The complaint is similar to what the police registered suo moto after the incident,” Mr De told The Hindu . NRS hospital and adjoining areas are under the jurisdiction of ESD.
Explaining the reasons for delaying any arrests after four days of the incident, an official of the police said that arrests may trigger more unrest in the area. “
The (NRS) student’s union is strong and controlled by Trinamool Congress. We are unsure of any hasty action, which may cause more trouble,” said the official of ESD, on condition of anonymity.
Strangely, the Opposition parties – Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) and Left Front – are silent on the incident. “The medical community represents the upper echelons of the society and thus influence a sizeable section of the voters, while the victim cannot represent anyone and thus opposition parties went mute,” says human rights activist Ranjit Sur.
Sha’s family and his neighbour’s in the village in Uluberia block of Howrah district are disappointed with the police administration and the government. Arjina Begum, now a widow with four children, said that her husband was an embroidery worker, who lost his job few years ago. Soon after Sha met with an accident and eventually developed dementia.
Perhaps poverty and accident- induced stress unsettled Sha and he started begging, Ms Begum said. Mr Sha often used to go to Kolkata for alms.
He went out on Friday and the family came to know on Monday that he was lynched. According to reports, Mr Sha was tortured and had “signs” of genital mutilation.
The incident has sparked protests in Kolkata. A doctor’s group initiated a fund raising campaign for the family on Thursday.
