A deeply unsettling incident has shaken Kakdwip in West Bengal, where the body of a 21-year-old Hindu law student was found hanging inside the chamber of a local advocate on Wednesday evening.

The chamber belonged to advocate Sheikh Monowar Alam, who has been missing ever since the discovery, leading the police to launch a manhunt. According to early police observations, the possibility of suicide has been considered, reportedly connected to a personal relationship that may have deteriorated. However, officials have made it clear that they have not ruled out foul play, and the exact cause of death will be known only after the post-mortem report.

The victim, Sonia Halder, was a first-year student at Hindu Law College and lived with her family in Gandhinagar, Kakdwip. As part of her legal training, she regularly visited the chamber of advocate Sheikh Monowar Alam for practical sessions. On Wednesday morning, she left home as she usually did to attend the training. But by evening, her family’s worst fears were realized when her body was found hanging from the ceiling inside Alam’s chamber at Nayapara under Pratapaditya Gram Panchayat. Before fleeing, Alam reportedly called the family himself to inform them about the incident. By the time anyone reached the location, he had already disappeared.

Grief-stricken family members rushed to the spot and immediately informed Kakdwip police. Officers soon arrived, recovered the body, and sent it to Kakdwip Sub-Divisional Hospital for an autopsy. During the search, a bag was also found inside the chamber. It reportedly contained what looked like a love letter, which the family believes indicates a personal relationship between Halder and Alam.

One of the family members alleged that Alam had promised to marry Sonia but later withdrew from the commitment, causing emotional distress to the young woman. This claim has been formally added to the complaint filed at Kakdwip police station, where the family accuses Alam of emotional manipulation that drove her to despair. Based on the written complaint, police have registered a case of unnatural death under relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code and begun a full investigation.

A senior police officer said, “We are investigating the case from all possible angles, including allegations made by the victim’s family. The accused lawyer is on the run, and efforts are on to trace him.” Officials also confirmed recovering the girl’s mobile phone, but the SIM card was missing. Meanwhile, the entire chamber area has been sealed off to preserve evidence.

The victim’s family further said that since the call from Alam, they have been repeatedly trying to reach him, but his number remains unreachable. The girl’s sister stated, “Sheikh Manohar Alam himself informed the Kakdwip police. Since then, we have been calling him, but the phone is switched off. We think it is a murder.”

Family alleges religious conversion angle and ongoing pattern of crimes against women in West Bengal

In the continuing investigation, a new and troubling allegation has surfaced involving the possible religious conversion of Sonia Halder. According to the family, Sonia was allegedly converted to Islam by advocate Manowar Alam. They pointed to the contents of the suicide note, claiming that the note clearly suggested this angle. In the note, Sonia reportedly mentioned the word ‘Allah’ several times and ended it with the phrase ‘Khuda Hafij’, something the family believes reflects the influence exerted on her by Alam.

Sonia’s family further said that she used to regularly visit the chamber of lawyer Sheikh Manowar Alam to gain practical knowledge related to her law studies. But they alleged that during this period, she was sexually exploited by Alam. According to the family, “as we found love letters and other things”, they believe this points to inappropriate behavior and manipulation that Sonia experienced. They maintain that this exploitation played a significant role in pushing her toward emotional distress.

Despite the seriousness of the accusations made by the family, they say that the police have not arrested the accused yet. The family expressed frustration and fear, stating that “Police didn't arrest the accused Manowar Alam till now.” This lack of action has increased their suspicion and grief, leaving them feeling helpless as the investigation continues.

The broader situation in West Bengal, especially regarding crimes against women, has become a growing concern. The family and local residents pointed out that recent incidents reflect what they see as a major collapse of law and order. They referenced several disturbing cases across the state: the rape of a 4-year-old girl in Tarakeshwar; the brutal rape and killing of an Adivasi girl in Rampurhat; the case of a Class 7 girl in Dum Dum who was attacked while returning from tuition; and the widely discussed rape-and-murder cases of Kaliaganj and Hanskhali, which allegedly involved a TMC panchayat member and his family. They also mentioned the RG Kar rape case, which triggered widespread outrage.

In the words of the family and supporters, “Women are just products for the TMC. From the rape of a student from Odisha to the Kasba Law College rape by a TMC leader, the list is never-ending.” They also recalled the incident where a headmistress in Jalpaiguri was allegedly forced to perform sit-ups by TMC leader Saikat Chatterjee, describing it as another example of humiliation faced by women in the state. They concluded with the grim statement that “No woman is safe in India’s Rape Capital, West Bengal.”

BJP alleges TMC ties

Meanwhile, the political angle surrounding the case intensified when Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP from Balurghat, Sukanta Majumdar, raised allegations that the absconding lawyer is closely linked to the Trinamool Congress (TMC). On Thursday, Majumdar posted on X (formerly Twitter) along with photographs of Alam, claiming that the advocate is a well-connected TMC figure with close ties to party general secretary Abhishek Banerjee.

Majumdar wrote, “Local sources allege that Sheikh Monowar Alam is a close associate of Abhishek Banerjee and local @AITCofficial leadership. This has sparked serious questions: is the @WBPolice’s apparent inaction deliberate, intended to protect someone powerful? Or are they hesitant to pursue the case out of fear that a proper investigation might uncover a larger network involved in the systematic targeting of Hindu girls across Kakdwip and surrounding areas?”

Majumdar, who also serves as Union Minister of State for Education and Development of North Eastern Region, further said that “the investigation appears stagnant, with no progress in locating the accused.”