Murshidabad violence victim Hargobind Das' family rejects 10 lakh compensation

In a heart-wrenching response to a tragic incident of communal violence, the family of Hargobind Das and his son Chandan Das has rejected the ₹10 lakh compensation announced by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. The father and son were killed during the unrest that broke out in the Shamsherganj area of Murshidabad district on April 12. The family says no amount of money can make up for the loss they have suffered.

Speaking to the media, the grieving relatives said, “The government’s help now means nothing to us. If the police had acted on time, they might still be alive.” They also shared that the atmosphere in the area remains tense and fearful, so much so that even the priest and barber refused to come for the shraddha rituals of the deceased on April 15.

The killings occurred during a protest against the Waqf Amendment Act. As the violence escalated, a mob allegedly stormed the house of Hargobind Das and lynched both him and his son. The act shocked the region and sparked national attention.

Reacting to the incident, the National Commission for Women (NCW) has taken suo motu cognizance and announced that a team would soon visit Murshidabad. The team is scheduled to reach Kolkata on Friday or Saturday and will engage with displaced women from the affected families. They are also expected to meet with the District Magistrate and Superintendent of Police to gather firsthand information.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, in a meeting with Imams and Muslim religious leaders, had announced a ₹10 lakh compensation for each victim. However, the gesture has not been well received by the victims’ kin. “This gesture is meaningless after such a tragedy. Justice, not money, is what we seek,” said a family member.