Calcutta mayor and the Muslim face of the Trinamul Congress Firhad Hakim on Sunday set out on a damage control measure following the mysterious death of student leader Anis Khan in the interiors of Howrah.
Anis Khan’s (28) corpse was found lying on the ground, allegedly hurled from a third floor terrace of his home after some men in mufti claiming to be cops went to interrogate him on the intervening night of Friday and Saturday.
Police have denied allegations of any involvement in the incident.
Students of Aliah University and other educational institutes held a protest march and candle light vigil on Saturday evening, allegedly pointing to the ruling Trinamul Congress's complicity in the murder. During Saturday’s protests, girl students, some with the hijab, were seen marching and squatting on streets against the chilling murder.
A vocal anti-CAA protester, Anis was a member of the Indian Secular Front. Last year, he had filed a complaint with the police after local Trinamul leaders in Amta had threatened him over organising a blood donation camp.
“Agitation is not going to help. What actually happened has to be thoroughly investigated and revealed,” Hakim said on Sunday morning during an event in his locality Chetla. “Why he had to die like this has to be found out. Agitations and protests will only be a waste of time.”
The family members have alleged that four persons, one of them in police uniform and carrying a firearm and the rest in plainclothes, had knocked on their door late on Friday night. Although they were told Anis was not at home, three of them went upstairs to the third-floor terrace and came down a little later. Minutes afterwards, Anis’ corpse was found lying on the ground.
For chief minister Mamata Banerjee, who has always projected herself as a champion of minority rights, the mysterious death is an embarrassment, considering the fact that Anis was a leading face in the movement to protect Aliah University, which the government is accused of neglecting.
“Had such an incident happened during the Left Front government’s tenure, Mamata Banerjee would have hit the streets and called for a bandh. We don’t have that kind of muscle power, but we demand a thorough probe,” said Mohammad Salim, CPM leader.
In a bid to assuage the feelings of students and the community, Trinamul leader Firhad Hakim said he had spoken with the district police authorities.
“I have told the SP to find out the real culprits and place them before a court of law, so that no such heinous crime can take place again. We must find out who was carrying such hatred for him. Such an incident has never happened in Bengal before. Police will investigate impartially,” said Hakim.
Former state BJP president and MP Dilip Ghosh took a dig at the chief minister and Bengal’s law and order situation.
“The chief minister who is also the home minister is busy with Uttar Pradesh and Goa. Who will control the goons here. Crime is increasing every day across the state,” Ghosh said.
