Krishnagar murder: 11 get death sentence

Krishnagar Court sentenced eleven people to death on Thursday in connection with the murder of a farmer’s wife following a scuffle over grabbing of land. 

On Thursday, Additional District and Sessions Judge of Krishnagar District Court Partha Sarathi Mukherjee announced the quantum of punishment. 

The accused including Lankeswar Ghosh were held guilty on Tuesday. 

They were held guilty under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on various charges including murder, hurling bombs and criminal conspiracy. 

Bikash Mukherjee, the state’s counsel, said the court had considered it to be one of the rarest incidents. Moreover, it was a well organised and planned murder.

The defence counsel said he would move to the higher court against Thursday’s verdict. 

On November 23, 2014, Lankeswar and his associates had raided Ghugrogachi village in Krishnagar to capture a 21 bigha plot. The situation had turned worse when a section of villagers had restricted them from grabbing the land. The accused had hurled bombs and opened fired at the protestors. 

Five people were injured and Aparna Bag had received bullet injuries. She later died in the hospital. Her family members had lodged a complaint. Based on the complaint police had initiated a probe and arrested 11 people. 

It may be mentioned that the police had given chargesheet against 12 people in connection with the incident. Eleven people were arrested while Manabeswar Biswas is still at large. 

On Thursday, the accused were brought inside the court room amidst tight security. 

The state counsel further said the accused had carried firearms and bombs. So it was quite clear that they had planned to commit the crime earlier. Thus the court had considered it to be a planned murder. 

The courtroom was packed with villagers and they demanded maximum punishment of the accused. The villagers also demanded arrest of the person who is still absconding. He was also a prime accused in this case as he was also one of them who had raided the village on November 23, 2014. So the police should take necessary steps to arrest him. 

Some villagers even passed comments at the accused when they were taken out of the courtroom and said that they have been punished for their crime. 

The villagers have also appreciated the work of the police and the support of the state government in helping them to get justice. Siuli Bag, a villager, said: “Aparna was an innocent woman. She had given her life to save the land and today we are happy as the murderers have been punished.”