Murshidabad News: The case of suspicious suicide of a school headmaster in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district has created a political stir. The deceased headmaster has been identified as Ujjal Singha Ray. His wife Poly Singha Ray made serious allegations and said that local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and Raninagar Panchayat Samiti member Ainul Haque had demanded a bribe of ₹35 lakh from her husband.
Family’s allegation
Poly Singha Ray said in a complaint lodged with the police that Ainul Haque had threatened her husband that if he did not pay the money, he would be implicated in a corruption case. She said,
“My husband was standing against the irregularities going on in the school. TMC leaders and their associates threatened to implicate him in the mid-day meal scam and demanded ₹35 lakh. Unable to bear this humiliation and pressure, he took his life.”
Police action
After receiving the complaint, Domkol police registered an FIR against Ainul Haque and three others on charges of abetment to suicide and criminal conspiracy and arrested Ainul Haque on Friday.
A senior police officer of Murshidabad said, “Initial investigation made it clear that there is truth in the allegations leveled against Ainul Haque. We have arrested him and now investigation is being done to find out who else was involved in this whole matter.”
Murshidabad: Ainul Haque’s statement
After the arrest, Ainul Haque denied all the allegations. He said, “I never threatened the headmaster. I am an alumnus of this school and he has been my teacher. Why would I threaten him? These are all baseless and false allegations.”
Relationship and position related to the school
It is worth noting that Ainul Haque is not only a member of the Panchayat Samiti but he is also the chairman of the Raninagar Sheikhpada Babultali Khalilur Rahman High School Management Committee. The deceased headmaster was working here.
Opposition’s attack, After this incident, opposition parties have intensified their attack on the TMC government. CPI(M) state secretary and former MP Mohammed Salim immediately reached Ujjal Singha Ray’s house and met the family. He called it an institutional murder.
Salim said, “This teacher could not bear the insult and threats and committed suicide. This is actually not a suicide, but an institutional murder. Mamata Banerjee has brought the state to such a situation where thieves and robbers are roaming freely and honest teachers are forced to take their lives. We will stand with this family and give them all possible legal help.”
