Man accused of killing ASI , held

Statesman News Service

MALDA, 27 JAN: The police have succeeded in arresting former Army personnel, Mr Ansarul Sheikh, accused of killing an assistant sub-inspector of police, Sanat Ghosh, from Ukilpara under Raiganj police station in North Dinajpur last night.

According to police, sheikh had hacked the ASI to death on the night of 24 January during a police raid at Chandpur villager under Ratua police station in Malda district.

The Malda SP Mr Bhuban Mandal said that the police had come to know Sheikh was scheduled to meet a person for financial transaction in Raiganj.

“Plain cloths policemen were waiting for him and arrested him after he arrived at the designated place. The Raiganj police arrested him and would hand him over to the Ratua police after producing him in court”, the SP informed. It is learnt that the police were monitoring his cell phone number as well. “We would interrogate Sheikh to learn where his son and other accused were. They are involved in murder, extortion and kidnapping cases.

The Malda police are, however, upset after the news of Ansarul’s arrest was televised before they got a chance to interrogate him.

“The news was broadcast from Raiganj police station before we could interrogate him. It would now prove difficult to arrest Sheikh’s associates. They would have the news of the arrest too and would go further under ground”, the Malda SP said.

After the incident, all family members including his sons left the house.

According to the police sheikh and his associates had hurled bombs at the police during the 24 January night raid and had dragged the victim police officer inside their house before hacking him to death. Two NVF and two home guards were accompanying the victim police official but could not open fire on time for want of permission from the higher authority. “The after effects of the recent Harishchnadrapur incident in which the police had to fire in self defence and injured five persons, have shaken the police.

“Political intervention followed the incident and the police were at the receiving end for opening fire. Junior officers are scared to fire now which cost a police officer’s life on 24 January night”, he lamented.

Meanwhile, a CID bomb today visited the Chanchal police station where seized crude bombs had exploded on 25 January evening injuring three police personnel. According to the Malda SP, primary investigation reveals that the incident was an accident.

“The CID bomb squad team would submit any inquiry report after examining the spot and then we would draw a conclusion on the incident”, he added.

According to the police, the crude bomb exploded after another object fell on it while the officers were rearranging the store.