“There were 18 Straco jawans along with policemen. With nearly 400 rounds of fire exchanged, how was it that no other policeman received a single scratch? My husband had a lot of enemies and who knows if there was a conspiracy involved (in his death),” said Sudipta after DGP Bhupinder Singh visited her Bhatbandh residence in Purulia on Friday.

Twelve days before his death on February 24, Mitra had told his wife: “I am sick of these phone calls. What more should I do for them?”

Mitra was referring to the calls of CPM leaders who often approached him, expressing fear for their lives, said Sudipta, alleging her husband was often harassed by CPM leaders.

She told the DGP: “My husband was never at peace. Whenever he would be home, he would answer phone calls not only from his seniors, but also from CPM leaders asking for help.” Sudipta claimed though Mitra had faced two attacks earlier, the government did not do anything for him.

The slain officer’s son, Ranbir, who appeared for his Madhyamik examination despite the loss of his father, says he does not want to join the force. “I have no intention of joining the police because my father did not want me to do it,” said Ranbir.