WB: Internet suspended in violence-hit Kaliaganj; National SC panel visits dead girl's family
Kaliaganj (WB) (PTI): The authorities on Thursday imposed Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 of CrPC and suspended internet services in entire Kaliaganj town in West Bengal's Uttar Dinajpur district, which has been rocked by violence since last week over a 17-year-old girl's death.
National Commission for Scheduled Castes vice chairperson Arun Halder visited the girl's family and alleged there were attempts to suppress the truth.
A civic volunteer, who was injured in the violence, died in a hospital during the day.
Tension was palpable in Kaliaganj as police raided several locations overnight in search of those involved in the violence.
A demonstration over the girl's death had turned violent on Tuesday as a mob set the Kaliaganj police station on fire, and thrashed on-duty police personnel. The protestors claimed she was raped and murdered, though a preliminary post-mortem examination report did not indicate that.
Mijanur Rehman, a civic volunteer who was critically injured on Tuesday, succumbed while undergoing treatment at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri.
Meanwhile, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes vice chairperson Arun Halder alleged non-cooperation from Uttar Dinajpur district administration and Raiganj Police District SP during his visit to Kaliaganj.
Speaking to PTI, Halder said that none of the District Collector and SP were present when he met the victim's family member in Kaliaganj.
"The IG North Bengal, district collector and SP have been served a notice to reply within seven days. I could sense that there was an attempt to suppress the truth," Halder said.
Several people were detained but police refused to divulge the details, citing the sensitivity of the issue.
In a tweet, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari of the BJP alleged that one Mrityunjay Barman was shot dead by the police. He also shared the photo and video of a body, which could not be independently verified by PTI.
However, a senior officer of the Raiganj Police District rejected the allegation.
The officer said that a large contingent of the police has been deployed in the area, where the situation is "peaceful" at present.
Later in the evening, the district administration suspended internet connection and imposed Prohibitory Orders under Section 144 CrPC in the entire Kaliaganj town to keep a check on the law and order situation, a senior official said.
Prohibitory Orders have initially been clamped in parts of the town on Sunday.
"These measures will continue till April 30," the officer said.
On Friday, the body of the girl was found floating in a canal. She went missing a day earlier after leaving home for her tuition classes.
After recovering the body, police allegedly dragged it on the road a few metres, triggering widespread criticism, and eventually leading to the suspension of four Assistant Sub Inspectors (ASIs).
The girl's family has been alleging that she was raped and murdered, and filed a police complaint against a 20-year-old man and his father who have been arrested.
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Tribal man brings dead sister's skeleton to bank to withdraw money from her account
Keonjhar (PTI): A tribal man in Odisha's Keonjhar district on Monday brought the skeleton of his dead sister to a bank to withdraw the money deposited in her name, police said.
The incident occurred at Maliposi branch of Odisha Grameen Bank located at Patana block of Keonjhar district. The man was identified as Jeetu Munda (50) of Dianali village. He was seeking to withdraw Rs 20,000 from the bank account of his elder sister, Kalra Munda (56), who died on January 26, 2026.
"I have run several times to the bank, and the people there told me to bring the account holder to withdraw money deposited in her name. Though I told them that she had died, they did not listen to me and insisted on bringing her to the bank. Therefore, out of frustration, I dug the grave and brought out her skeleton as proof of her death," an illiterate Jeetu Munda told reporters.
Patana Police Station Inspector in charge (IIC) Kiran Prasad Sahu, who reached the bank after getting information, said, "Jeetu is an illiterate tribal man. He does not know what the legal heir or nominee is. The bank officials have failed to make him understand the procedure to withdraw money from the dead person's account."
However, after the incident, the police assured Jeetu Munda that they would facilitate the withdrawal of money from the bank account of his dead sister. Later, the skeleton was again buried at the graveyard in presence of police.
Meanwhile, local Block Development Officer (BDO) Manas Dandpat said that he was not approached by anyone for the legal heir of late Kalra Munda. "Today only, I came to know about it. We will see what can be done to resolve the issue," the BDO said.
Meanwhile, bank sources said that the nominee in Kalra Munda's bank account was also dead. Therefore, Jeetu Munda was the lone claimant over the money deposited in her name.
The local administration has directed the bank officers to make arrangements and ensure that Jeetu Munda, who is the only claimant as per the rules, gets the money as soon as possible.
