Who Are the Two Arrested for the Kidnapping and Murder of a Gold Trader in Bengal?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Two individuals arrested for the kidnapping and murder of a gold trader in West Bengal.
- CCTV footage played a crucial role in the investigation.
- The victim's family filed a formal complaint leading to police action.
- Charges include kidnapping, murder, and evidence tampering.
- The case has raised questions about authority and accountability in local governance.
Kolkata, Nov 8 (NationPress) The local law enforcement has taken two individuals into custody linked to the kidnapping and murder of a gold trader from West Midnapore district in West Bengal.
The family of the deceased, identified as Swapan Kamilya, lodged a complaint against Rajganj Block Development Officer (BDO) Prashant Barman in Jalpaiguri district, accusing him of involvement in the crime.
On Saturday, authorities confirmed the arrests of the BDO's driver and a companion. The suspects, identified as Raju Dhali and Tufan Thapa, were apprehended following an investigation. Raju, the driver, resides in the Rajarhat area of New Town, while Tufan is noted to be a friend of the BDO.
CCTV surveillance footage has come to light, showing a vehicle with a blue light allegedly transporting the victim's body, which is now being reviewed by investigators.
The accused made their appearance in the Bidhannagar Sub-divisional Court on Saturday, where the judge mandated a 12-day police custody for further questioning.
To recount the events, on October 28, Swapan Kamilya's body was discovered in a ditch located in the Jatragachi area near Kolkata. He resided in Dilmatia village, within the jurisdiction of the Mohanpur police station in West Midnapore. Kamilya operated a gold shop in Duttabad, Salt Lake, Kolkata. Notably, in August, gold jewelry was reported stolen from the BDO's residence.
Reports indicate that the caretaker of the BDO's house claimed to have sold the stolen gold to Kamilya. Allegedly, Prashant Barman had threatened Kamilya when he visited his residence in West Midnapore, as evidenced by a video shared with the Mohanpur police.
Subsequently, Barman contacted Kamilya about returning the stolen items, leading to a meeting on October 27 at Kamilya's shop in Duttabad, accompanied by five others. Reports state that Kamilya and his landlord were taken away, with the landlord later released, unable to disclose Kamilya's whereabouts.
The following day, Kamilya's body was discovered, showing multiple signs of trauma. On November 5, Kamilya's brother-in-law, Debashis Kamilya, filed a formal complaint at the Bidhannagar South police station, leading to charges against Barman for kidnapping, murder, and tampering with evidence. Barman has refuted these claims.