Ratish Debnath, a 56-year-old resident of Haripara, Nadia, died in police custody at Bidhannagar East Police Station on December 19. Debnath had been arrested on December 18 by the police for allegedly forging caste certificates in a fraud scheme. After his arrest, the Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Court granted police custody for further investigation, and he was held at the police station.
On December 19, Debnath suddenly fell ill while in custody and was transferred to Bidhannagar Sub-Divisional Hospital at around 1 PM. He was reportedly undergoing treatment but was declared dead at approximately 4:30 PM. Medical personnel at the hospital confirmed his death but noted multiple bruise marks on his body. The presence of these marks has raised concerns and led to questions about the possible cause of death. However, police have not provided any official explanation regarding the marks or the exact circumstances surrounding his death.
Following the incident, the body has been sent to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital for a post-mortem examination. The authorities expect the autopsy report to provide more details on the cause of death, which will be crucial for the ongoing investigation. The police have assured that a thorough inquiry will be conducted, and all aspects of the case, including the conditions of Debnath’s detention, will be reviewed. The investigation is ongoing, and further details are awaited.