Is a Trinamool Leader Linked to the Murder of a Kolkata Gold Trader?
Synopsis
Key Takeaways
- Trinamool Congress leader arrested
- Alleged murder of a gold trader
- BDO implicated in the crime
- Investigation ongoing
- Public trust in governance at stake
Kolkata, Nov 13 (NationPress) The authorities have apprehended a Trinamool Congress block president from Cooch Behar district, marking the third arrest in the suspected murder of a gold trader in West Bengal, a crime allegedly orchestrated by a Block Development Officer (BDO), officials stated on Thursday.
The accused TMC leader, Sajal Sarkar, is said to have close ties with Rajganj BDO Prashant Barman, who is implicated in the murder plot, with the police currently investigating the depth of his involvement.
This arrest comes after the earlier detentions of the BDO’s driver, Raju Dhali, and his companion, Tufan Thapa, increasing the total number of arrests to three in the murder case of the gold trader, Swapan Kamilya.
According to law enforcement, Dhali and Thapa have reportedly admitted to the murder during interrogation and have implicated BDO Barman, against whom the family of the deceased gold trader lodged a formal complaint on November 6.
Despite the allegations, the BDO has denied any involvement in the murder.
The police investigation into the killing of the gold trader from West Midnapore revealed that the accused arrived in a blue-beacon vehicle on October 28 at the victim’s shop located in Duttabad in the Salt Lake area of Kolkata.
Authorities stated that Kamilya was brutally beaten with a belt and a stick inside the shop. He allegedly collapsed and lost consciousness after the assault.
Realizing that the victim had succumbed to the injuries, the assailants moved his body into the car and disposed of it near a canal bank in Jatragachi, New Town. The body was discovered the following day.
Reports indicate that the BDO departed the city a day post-murder, and the arrested driver, Raju Dhali, purportedly transported him to Dum Dum Airport in the same vehicle used for body disposal.
The police had previously announced the arrests of the Rajganj BDO’s driver, Raju Dhali, and his associate, Tufan Thapa.
On November 6, the family of the deceased businessman filed a complaint with the police in Jalpaiguri district, accusing the Rajganj BDO of both kidnapping and murdering Kamilya.