Police must take liability of reduction in Biswajit killers' sentence

For those who had seen the pictures and videos in the media of the Biswajit Das murder, were undoubtedly crestfallen by the High Court’s verdict this Sunday. The High Court commuted the sentence of six of the eight Chhatra League leaders and activists who had originally been sentenced to death a lower court. The High Court found discrepancies in the evidence against the accused. It is the responsibility of the police to present clear and accurate evidence in favour of the allegations. It is based on this that the court passed judgement. If there are shortcomings in this regard, it is difficult to ensure justice.

It is the police who have to take responsibility for the verdict in this case and the disappointment of Biswajit’s family and others. The High Court found that the autopsy and investigation reports did tally with the other evidence and testimonies. The court had instructed the police and health administration to look into whether the concerned police and physicians neglected their duties in this connection. We hope that this initiative of the court has a positive outcome.

It is most unfortunate that though the photographs and video footage shows eight to ten persons striking Biswajit with sharp weapons, the investigation and autopsy reports mention only one wound. Yet the court has evidence that he was killed after being beaten up by several persons. All the accused belong to the ruling party’s student wing Chhatra League. So it is neceeary to determine whether there had been any manipulations and influence in preparing the investigation and autopsy reports.

Biswajit’s parents cannot accept that the sentence of four of the accused has been reduced and two have been released. How can they accept such a verdict? We hope the police and the health administration follow the court order to investigate the matter.

Meanwhile, 11 of the persons sentenced in this case remain at large. It is another failure of the police that they have not been able to nab them. We expect the police to take all measures needed to catch these criminals.