Alleged murder of Anish Khan: Independent investigation ordered by the West Bengal government

Amid protests across the state over alleged murder of Anish Khan, a ISF worker and former CPI-M student’s wing activist in Howrah district’s Amta, an independent investigation by a DSP ranking officer has been ordered by the West Bengal government on Sunday.

Protests continued throughout the day in Anish’s village in Amta by the family members and neighbours, in front of Amta police station and various parts of the state by Student’s Federation of India (SFI) student wing of CPI-M, including Jadavpur University and Rajabazar in the evening.

Amid protests by the SFI during the day, in Howrah district’s Amta Police Station area turned into a warzone following protests over murder of the Indian Secular Front (ISF) and former SFI worker at his residence yesterday.


Family of Anish Khan claimed that he was allegedly murdered by four persons dressed as police personnel. The police, however, has denied such allegations. The SFI is protesting outside Amta police station, broke barricades, and got engaged in scuffle with the police. Protests in Jadavpur University and Rajabazar have been organized by the SFI-led students.

Protests also broke out in Rajabazar and outside Jadavpur University campus have been organized by the SFI-led students in connection with the Anish Khan case this evening. The SFI has threatened to continue the protests unless action is taken against the accused.

“An independent investigation by the Deputy Superintendent of Police ranking officer has been ordered. Whether there was negligence on part of the police officials will also be probed,” Saumya Roy, Howrah -Rural, Superintendent of Police, said

“The higher authority will investigate the matter. No officer from the police station will be involved in the investigation. When police got information about the deceased, they went to their house at 5 to 6am, Roy mentioned. The forensic experts have collected samples and locals are being investigated, Roy said, adding that Anish was accused in several cases.

The family and neighbours claimed that though the incident happened at 1PM, police reached at 8 am in the morning. Director General of Police Manoj Malaviya had discussion on the issue with Howrah (Rural) Saumya Roy today at Bhabani Bhawan, the district police headquarters.

Anish’s father demanded CBI investigation to probe his son’s alleged murder. Salam Khan, Anish’s father, said four men on Friday night dressed as police personnel visited their house and asked for Anish.

“Four men came to our house around 1am and started banging the gate. They were shouting Anis’s name. I knew he had gone out in the evening, I didn’t know if he had returned. Then three of them went up to the terrace and one of them had stopped me at the staircase. Then my son was found lying dead on the ground,” said Anis’s father. The forensic team investigated how the body fell from the first floor of the house after alleged murder, as claimed by the family members.

According to Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Khan, Anis was a member of ISF and also protested against the implementation of CAA and NRC in the state.

BJP Chief Spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya claimed that Trinamool leaders are involved behind the murder of Anish. Similar claims have been made by the SFI. Trinamool minister Firhad Hakim claimed the involvement of any gang from UP or Bihar.

On Saturday, students of Aliah University held a candle light march protesting Aliah University student Anish Khan’s death at Park Circus area in Kolkata.

It can be recalled that in 2013, Sudipta Gupta, a post-graduate from Rabindra Bharati University, was killed in police custody following his arrest during a demonstration. Sudipta was a state committee member of the CPM’s students’ wing SFI. It is learned that Anis also did SFI before joining ISF.