‘Did not know Anish Khan was popular’: Bengal’s Amta villagers mourn Kolkata student leader’s death

Student leader Anish Khan’s death has shocked Kolkata. When India Today visited his village, there was an outpouring of emotions and a strong demand for justice.

Kolkata has seen a fair share of student politics. Students often take out or participate in anti-establishment rallies, and in some cases, there have also been instances of clashes with the administration. But Anish Khan’s death has shaken the city as his family refused to budge from its demand for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe despite the assurances of justice from the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Hundreds gathered outside the unfinished three-storey structure at Bengal's Amta to seek justice for Anish Khan. He was killed two days ago. His family alleged that he was thrown off the third floor of his house by some unknown people who came disguised as police officers. Among the four suspects, one was in a police uniform, villagers and his family said.

Anish Khan's distraught father sat on his bed as cameras zoomed in on him. The flashes no longer startled him. But he stopped engaging the media in lengthy interactions. He stuck to his demand for a CBI probe as the police can't be trusted.

When asked about his thoughts on the ruling TMC and the assurance of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, he said, "What has happened has happened. I have lost faith in the police. The chief minister has sent people like [MLA] Pulak Roy. He wanted me to go to Nabanna but I won't go. My son has been murdered and the chief minister should come to my place."

Anish was associated with the Left. While some reports also said that he was connected with the Indian Secular Front, his brother denied this claim. When his father was asked to speak about him, he said, "I will talk about how he was as a person later. For now, I want a CBI probe into the matter. I don't have faith in the police."

Villagers stood by Anish's family and demanded the strictest punishment for the culprits. Men, women and children crowded the house and told the media why his death felt huge. They said Anish was a person who always helped people irrespective of which political party they supported. He also helped people during the Covid pandemic. He distributed foodgrains and helped poor students with their education during the lockdown.

On the fateful night, he attended a function in the village. Most villagers attended the function. According to Anish's cousin, he returned home around 11 pm, and a couple of hours later, four men knocked on his door.