Woman succumbs to burn injuries, Rampurhat death toll rises to 10

Violence in West Bengal’s Rampurhat last month claimed the tenth victim when a woman with severe burns in the Bogatui incident succumbed to her six weeks of fighting for survival.

The country’s premier investigative agency is investigating the alleged planned violence after the March 21 killing of Trinamool’s sub-panchayat leader Bhadu Sheikh. Eight members of the same family were killed in the arson on the night of March 21.

With the death of Athar Bibi at Rampurhat Hospital on Sunday morning, the death toll rose to ten. Hospital sources said another woman from the same family, Najma Bibi, had also died a few days ago.

It is noteworthy that Athar Bibi was discharged from the hospital a few days ago but was admitted again. Athar Bibi’s body has been sent for post-mortem.

“We have lost all family members in the incident. From a young child, a newly wed couple, who was my brother’s daughter and her husband, had just got married two months ago, and my 78-year-old mother, my wife and My brother’s wife – all are dead. We don’t understand the meaning of being alive,” said Sheikh Lal Sheikh, one of the family members.

Two brothers of the family, Shekhlal and Mihilal Shaikh, who are alive, had survived the fire on March 21 as they were not at home at the time of the incident. He has recorded his statement before the central agency.

Mihilal Shaikh said, “Atahar Bibi, when she returned home from the hospital for a few days, told me that she saw neighbors including Milan Shaikh setting the house on fire that night.”

Originally published at Pen 18