Kolkata, 23 July (H.S.): The 2012 murder of protester-teacher Varun Biswas, who had campaigned against the infamous Sutia rape and murder cases, has taken a fresh turn with a complaint naming former West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress leader Mamata Banerjee as a conspirator in the case.

Nandadulal Das, a schoolteacher and former associate of Varun Biswas in the anti-crime movement, has submitted a written complaint to Bongaon Superintendent of Police Kalita Dasgupta, seeking registration of an FIR and a fresh investigation into the murder. The complaint also names former Food Minister Jyotipriya Mallick and several others.

In his complaint, Das alleged that the real investigation into Varun Biswas' murder was deliberately obstructed during the previous Trinamool government. He claimed he was also harassed, threatened and falsely implicated in cases after speaking out against the killing, alleging that attempts were made to divert the investigation by blaming political opponents instead of identifying the actual conspirators.

The complaint identifies Mamata Banerjee and Jyotipriya Mallick as the principal conspirators and also names Tapan Sinha, Pradip Ghosh, Bishnu Ghosh, Sukhen Bala, Dhyanesh Guha, Mihir Biswas and Deben Ghosh, while alleging that several others were involved in the conspiracy.

Varun Biswas, a Bengali teacher at Mitra Institution (Main), Kolkata, was shot dead outside Gobardanga railway station on July 5, 2012, while returning home from school. He was one of the key voices and witnesses in the campaign against the notorious Sutia rape and murder cases, and his killing had sparked widespread outrage across West Bengal.

Fourteen years after the murder, Biswas' family continues to allege that justice has not been served. They recently met Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, seeking a proper investigation into the case. Following the meeting, the state government appointed Debaranjan Bandyopadhyay as Special Public Prosecutor in the case.

The trial is continuing at the Bongaon Sub-Divisional Court, where the 37th witness was examined on Friday. The family maintains that the investigation during the previous regime was inadequate and that the masterminds behind the murder are yet to be identified.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey