West Bengal Youths Allegedly Murdered in Mizoram, Families Demand Justice
In a tragic incident, two young men from Keshpur in West Midnapore, West Bengal, who had traveled to the northeastern region for employment, have allegedly been murdered. Their families are now pleading with authorities to bring back their bodies from Mizoram for proper last rites.
Details of the Deceased and Their Journey
The victims have been identified as 24-year-old Arfik Rahman Khan and 29-year-old Jahangir Mirza, both residents of Charka village. They were part of a six-member group that departed in February to sell blankets, mattresses, bedsheets, and curtains. While their primary base was in Assam, their work often took them into Mizoram and areas near the Myanmar border.
Disappearance and Discovery Through Social Media
Family members reported that they last communicated with Arfik and Jahangir on March 16, after which all contact was lost. The alleged murders came to light through social media platforms. Arfik's brother, Nasim, stated that on April 4, while searching regional online forums, the family encountered disturbing images and videos suggesting the two had been killed and buried. The footage also showed the vehicle they had taken from West Midnapore, and it is further alleged that their driver, an Assam resident, was also killed.
Families' Suspicions and Police Action
The families suspect the incident occurred within the jurisdiction of the Champhai police station in Mizoram. Nasim expressed the family's anguish, saying, "We have been in a state of constant anxiety since mid-March. After seeing the evidence of this brutal act on social media, we filed a missing person's report at Keshpur police station on April 5. Now, our only prayer is for the administration to help us retrieve their bodies so we can perform their last rites in our village."
On Tuesday, grieving relatives and villagers met with the West Midnapore district administration, seeking urgent intervention and a high-level probe into the double murder. Police in Keshpur, who had earlier received a verbal complaint in March, have now registered a formal case to investigate the matter thoroughly.
