Solved case · 2014
The short answer
A West Bengal police sub-inspector died 50 days after being injured by bomb splinters during a 2014 clash between CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress supporters; all 18 accused were later acquitted after a court criticized the police investigation as lax and incompetent.
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Suggest coverage for Killing of Amit ChakrabortyAmit Chakraborty was a sub-inspector of police posted in Dubrajpur, West Bengal. In 2014, he and three other police officers were allegedly attacked with a bomb during a clash between supporters of the Communist Party of India (Marxist) and the Trinamool Congress (TMC) at Aoulia-Gopalpur village. Chakraborty was struck by bomb splinters and injured in the stomach. He succumbed to his injuries 50 days later.
Eighteen people were accused in connection with the case. Most of the accused were identified as Trinamool Congress leaders and supporters. In 2018, a Suri court acquitted all 18 accused. The presiding judge criticized the West Bengal Police, stating that a lax and incompetent investigation had resulted in a lack of evidence, leading to the acquittals. The police had made the deceased officer, Amit Chakraborty, the main witness in his own murder case, and the police reportedly acknowledged this error before the court.
Following the acquittals, the West Bengal Criminal Investigation Department (CID) took over the investigation. Prior to the verdict, in 2016, the Birbhum public prosecutor, acting on behalf of the West Bengal state government, had appealed to the court to free all the accused before judgment was reached. This appeal drew protests from police personnel, the victim's family, and opposition political parties. Following these protests, the West Bengal government withdrew the appeal.
The state government faced criticism over its attempt to have the case against the accused—a majority of whom were TMC members—withdrawn. Amit Chakraborty's widow accused the police of facing political pressure that prevented a proper investigation into her husband's death. West Bengal Police denied allegations that they had failed to take action following the attack.
This case remains notable for the procedural failures identified by the court, including the acquittal of all accused due to evidentiary shortcomings attributed to the investigation, and for the political controversy surrounding the state government's attempted withdrawal of the prosecution.
Amit Chakraborty, a sub-inspector of police in Dubrajpur, West Bengal, is injured by bomb splinters during a clash between CPI(M) and Trinamool Congress supporters at Aoulia-Gopalpur village.
Chakraborty dies approximately 50 days after his injury.
The Birbhum public prosecutor, on behalf of the West Bengal government, appeals to the court to free all accused before judgment; the government later withdraws the appeal after protests.
A Suri court acquits all 18 accused, with the judge criticizing the police investigation as lax and incompetent.
Victims first. Every legal label is set from public records and court outcomes, not from the prose.
Sub-inspector of police in Dubrajpur, West Bengal, who died from bomb-splinter injuries sustained during a 2014 political clash.[3]
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