Bringing closure to one of the most brutal episodes of violence witnessed in Murshidabad this year, a fast-track court on Tuesday sentenced all 13 convicts to life imprisonment in the lynching of Hargobind Das and his son Chandan Das. The verdict was pronounced by Additional District and Sessions Judge (ADJ-I) Amitabh Mukherjee at the Jangipur court.
The case relates to the killing of the father-son duo at their residence in Jafarabad, under the Samserganj police station limits, on April 12, 2025, amid large-scale unrest and violent protests in the district.
According to the prosecution, the trial concluded within 253 days, an unusually swift timeline for a mob lynching case in the state. A Special Investigation Team (SIT), assisted by local police, arrested all 13 accused, all of whom were found guilty by the court.
Police officials described the verdict as an example of “swift justice,” noting that all accused were convicted without exception. The court awarded life imprisonment to each of the 13 convicts, rejecting pleas for leniency.
Despite the convictions, the victims’ family expressed deep dissatisfaction with the sentence. Parul Das, wife of Hargobind Das and mother of Chandan Das, said the punishment did not reflect the brutality of the crime.
“We have lost two members of our family in the most inhuman manner. Life imprisonment is not enough. We will seek the death penalty,” she said, indicating that the family would pursue the matter in higher courts.
Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said the party would extend full legal support to the Das family. Addressing a press conference, Adhikari questioned why the court stopped short of awarding capital punishment.
“The brutality of the lynching demanded the harshest punishment. This sentence does not do justice to the scale of the crime,” he said, alleging administrative failure and vowing to challenge the verdict in the Calcutta High Court and the Supreme Court.
The killings occurred during a period of intense unrest in Murshidabad in April, when protests against the Waqf (Amendment) Act spiralled into violence. Several incidents of arson, vandalism and targeted attacks were reported across the district.
The lynching of Hargobind Das and Chandan Das at their home in Jafarabad emerged as one of the most gruesome and shocking incidents during that phase of violence, drawing statewide attention and condemnation.
Senior police officials said the case was distinct from other violence-related incidents in Murshidabad. ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar stated that all 13 convicts were local residents, unlike other cases where outsiders were allegedly involved.
“The investigation established that the crime stemmed from local enmity, including a property-related dispute. The violence was targeted, and only the Das family was attacked,” Sarkar said.
He added that advanced forensic tools, including DNA analysis and gait examination, played a crucial role in identifying the accused and securing convictions.
Public Prosecutor Bibhas Chatterjee termed the judgment a landmark moment for West Bengal’s criminal justice system. He described it as the first successful conviction in a mob lynching case in the state.
“The prosecution team worked relentlessly over the past eight months to ensure accountability. This verdict reinforces the rule of law and sends a message that mob violence will not go unpunished,” Chatterjee said.
While the court’s verdict has brought an end to the trial at the district level, legal proceedings are far from over. With the victims’ family and the BJP preparing to challenge the sentence, the case is expected to move to higher judicial forums in the coming weeks.
