West Bengal police say Ratan Sheikh was shot dead in Birbhum encounter
Police in West Bengal's Birbhum district say Ratan Sheikh, accused of shooting a constable, was killed in an encounter, the fifth such death since May.
Livefeed News DeskUpdated · 2 min read
Quick answer
Ratan Sheikh, accused of shooting a police constable, was killed in an encounter with police in West Bengal's Birbhum district on Sunday, police said. Malayalam outlets count it as the fifth accused killed in police firing since the BJP government took office in May.
Key facts
- Ratan Sheikh was killed in police firing in Birbhum district on 15 November, according to police.
- He was accused of firing at constable Biswajit Das during a raid on Friday, injuring his leg.
- Sheikh was an accused in 36 cases.
- It is the fifth accused killed in police firing since the BJP government took office in May.
- Police say the firing in each case was in self-defence or followed an attack on officers.
What police say happened
Ratan Sheikh, accused in 36 cases, died after police opened fire in Birbhum district, West Bengal. According to unofficial police information reported by Manorama, he had been arrested for shooting a constable and was taken out to recover a hidden weapon. Police say he took a gun kept near a bridge, confronted the team and tried to escape, and police fired in self-defence. He was taken to Bolpur subdivisional hospital, where he could not be saved.
Mathrubhumi gives a slightly different account, saying he was shot while police tried to catch him after he fled from shooting the constable. It adds that he had recently been released on bail. The sources report police statements only, and no independent confirmation of the circumstances is available in them.
#WATCH | Birbhum, West Bengal: Ratan Sheikh, accused of firing at a police constable, was killed in a police encounter in Nanoor today pic.twitter.com/bEsAySvWbC
— ANI (@ANI) November 15, 2026
The attack on the constable
Constable Biswajit Das of Shantiniketan police station was shot in the leg last Friday during a raid at the Laybazar bus stand. Mathrubhumi reports that he was seriously injured.
Fifth such death since May
Manorama says Sheikh is the fifth accused to die in police firing since the BJP government came to power in May, and Mathrubhumi describes it as the fifth encounter killing in five months. Of the earlier four, Manorama says three were accused in cases of raping minors and one in the killing of a BJP worker.
Mathrubhumi lists the earlier cases as Prabhas Mondal on 8 July in South 24 Parganas, Prahlad Das on 27 October in North 24 Parganas, Samiul Sheikh on 27 October in Murshidabad, and Dilip Roy in North Dinajpur, reported on 9 November. In each, police said the accused had either fired at officers or tried to snatch a policeman's weapon.
Political response
After the 9 November killing in North Dinajpur, the state saw a major political controversy, according to Mathrubhumi. Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, who also holds the home portfolio, strongly defended the police, saying they acted according to law after being attacked.
Frequently asked questions
Who was Ratan Sheikh?
He was a man accused in 36 cases, including the shooting of a police constable in Birbhum.
Where did the encounter happen?
In Birbhum district, West Bengal. Mathrubhumi places it at Shantiniketan in Bolpur.
How many such killings have there been since May?
Malayalam outlets Manorama and Mathrubhumi count Sheikh as the fifth accused killed in police firing since the BJP government took office.
What has the government said?
Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari defended the police, saying they acted according to law after being attacked.
