Kolkata Police File Charge Sheet In Chetla Murder Case

Kolkata Police have filed a charge sheet in the murder case of Ashok Paswan, officials said on Saturday.

Paswan, a youth, was killed last year in Chetla, a locality in south Kolkata. The area falls under the ward of Kolkata Mayor Firhad Hakim.

The charge sheet, submitted before the Alipore court, names two accused, Surajit Haldar and Tapas Pal, and includes statements from 30 witnesses.

Investigators have also outlined the motive behind the crime in the 85-page document.

Ashok Paswan was brutally murdered near the number 17 bus stand in Chetla in October 2022.

According to police findings, the incident took place during a drinking session held at the open bus stand.

An argument reportedly broke out among the group, following which one of Ashok’s companions allegedly thrust a crowbar into his throat.

Despite sustaining the grievous injury, Ashok ran nearly 100 metres along the road before collapsing on the street. He was rushed to SSKM Hospital in a severely injured and bloodied condition, where doctors examined him and declared him dead.

Investigators said the dispute began with an argument involving the wife of one of the accused. The argument escalated during the drinking session. It ultimately led to the fatal assault.

Following the incident, the officer in charge of Chetla Police Station was removed from the post. Amitabh Sarkhel was appointed as the new officer in charge.

The decision came amid public outrage, as the murder occurred in a posh locality and within the neighbourhood of the Kolkata Mayor, raising serious questions about safety and security in the area.

After the killing, residents voiced strong resentment, alleging that liquor parties had become frequent on public roads in the locality. Residents claimed that such gatherings posed a threat to law and order and had repeatedly been ignored by the authorities.