Bengal: Two men accused in separate crimes killed in alleged police gunfights within 24 hours

Samiul Sheikh, the main accused in BJP worker Sujit Mondal’s murder, was killed in Murshidabad. Police said he tried to escape during a crime-scene reconstruction, snatched a firearm from an officer, and fired at the team. He was wounded in retaliatory fire and later declared dead at a hospital.

Prahlad Das was killed shortly before midnight in Gaighata, North 24 Parganas. He had been accused of raping and murdering a Class 11 student. Police said Das also seized a firearm, opened fire, and was shot in response. His arrest came a day after the girl disappeared, and her body was later recovered.

The police presented both deaths as responses to armed attacks during custody. Opposition leaders questioned that explanation, especially how two detainees allegedly managed to seize police weapons. The incidents therefore raise concerns about custody procedures, police accountability, and whether the shootings were genuine or staged.

A police “encounter” is a reported armed confrontation between police and a suspect. In this article, the term describes alleged gunfights in which officers said the accused seized police firearms and opened fire. The police then claimed they used retaliatory fire. The word can describe the police account without proving that account is accurate.

A killing after conviction is different because a court has already examined the case and found the person guilty. Any punishment follows a judicial process, subject to legal safeguards and appeals. An encounter death usually occurs while the person is only accused, arrested, or awaiting trial.

That difference matters because an encounter can end the accused person’s life before evidence is tested in court. In West Bengal, Opposition leaders called the shootings “staged encounters” and questioned the police version. Lawful review must therefore examine whether force was necessary and whether the shooting followed legal rules.

The report describes two deaths in alleged police gunfights over a period of less than 24 hours. Samiul Sheikh was killed in Murshidabad on Tuesday, and Prahlad Das was shot shortly before midnight on Monday in Gaighata, North 24 Parganas. Both were accused in serious criminal cases.

Police gave a similar explanation for both shootings. They said each detainee seized a police firearm and opened fire, prompting officers to respond. Sheikh was being taken back after investigators reconstructed Mondal’s alleged murder. Das had been arrested after a Class 11 student disappeared and was later found dead.

The article also mentions a comparable incident in July. A man accused of raping and murdering a minor in Baruipur, South 24 Parganas, was killed in an alleged gunfight with police. Opposition parties linked the pattern to concerns about Uttar Pradesh-style extrajudicial killings, while BJP leader Dilip Ghosh defended difficult police actions.

Taking an accused person to a crime scene can help investigators reconstruct the alleged events. The person may indicate routes, locations, actions, or places where evidence was left. Such a reconstruction can be compared with witness accounts, physical evidence, and forensic findings. It may also help investigators identify inconsistencies in a statement.

The article says a Criminal Investigation Department team took Samiul Sheikh to Old Dak Bungalow in Samserganj for this purpose. Police said he tried to escape while returning, snatched an officer’s firearm, and opened fire. Officers then shot him, according to their account.

Custody creates serious risks during such an operation. A detainee may flee, officers or bystanders may be injured, or weapons may be taken. The accused may also be vulnerable to pressure or mistreatment. Because the person is under state control, investigators must preserve records, witnesses, forensic evidence, and a clear account of events so the shooting can be independently reviewed.

When a main accused dies before trial, proceedings against that person generally end because a dead person cannot be tried or convicted. The case may still continue against co-accused people if investigators have separate evidence. The death does not automatically prove guilt, innocence, or the truth of the allegations.

In this report, Samiul Sheikh was identified as the main accused in Sujit Mondal’s murder, while Prahlad Das was accused in the student’s rape and murder. Their deaths mean neither man can answer charges in court, challenge evidence, or face cross-examination. Any confession or statement attributed to them must be assessed under applicable evidence rules.

The death can also affect scrutiny of the police shooting. A trial would normally allow lawyers to question witnesses and examine evidence about the accused’s conduct. Once the accused is dead, the police account may still be investigated through officers, forensic reports, weapons, medical findings, and independent witnesses, but one central participant is unavailable.

The article reports police explanations and political criticism, but it does not identify a specific institution assigned to determine whether either shooting was lawful. In general, a judicial court or magistrate can review a custodial death, while an investigation separate from the officers involved can examine possible criminal conduct. Human-rights commissions may also scrutinize alleged unlawful killings.

Investigators would compare the officers’ statements with post-mortem findings, injury patterns, and the alleged firearms. Ballistic tests can examine whether recovered weapons were fired and whether bullets match them. They would also inspect the scene, clothing, blood patterns, photographs, phone or video records, and statements from witnesses.

Custody records are especially important. Reviewers would examine arrest and movement logs, body-camera or station footage where available, medical examinations, communication records, and the timing of the shooting. The Opposition’s question about two detainees allegedly taking police weapons makes weapon security, officer injuries, and independent corroboration central to testing the official account.

The rule of law requires authorities to investigate serious allegations, present evidence, and allow a court to decide guilt. An accusation is not the same as a conviction. Even when a crime causes public anger, the state must follow legal procedures rather than impose punishment through an untested police action.

Due process gives the accused a chance to know the case, challenge evidence, and receive legal representation. It also lets judges assess witness accounts, forensic material, and statements. In the reported cases, both men died before trial, so their alleged guilt and the circumstances of their deaths cannot be examined through a normal trial involving them.

These safeguards matter for everyone, including victims and the public. A lawful conviction can establish responsibility, while an unlawful killing can destroy evidence and weaken trust. Opposition leaders warned about an “alien culture” of extrajudicial killings, while BJP leader Dilip Ghosh said police sometimes take unpopular steps. Independent review is essential to distinguish lawful force from punishment without trial.