In a developing story about a brutal murder in West Bengal, police have arrested a local Trinamool Congress leader for his alleged role in killing a gold trader. The case, centered in Kolkata’s Salt Lake area, has already seen two other arrests and is now spotlighting a town official who may have masterminded the crime.
Who’s been taken into custody?
Sajal Sarkar, a Trinamool Congress block president from Cooch Behar district, was booked by police on Thursday. Sarkar is said to be a close ally of Rajganj block development officer (BDO) Prashant Barman, who police believe planned the killing. Barman, who denies any involvement, is now under investigation to gauge the extent of his alleged orchestration.
The arrest follows earlier detentions of Barman’s driver Raju Dhali and his associate Tufan Thapa. Combined, the three men are the first suspects to be taken into custody over the murder of gold trader Swapan Kamilya.
What happened to the gold trader?
Police say Kamilya was dragged into a blue‑beacon car on Oct. 28 and taken into his shop in Duttabad, Salt Lake, Kolkata. Inside, he was beaten with a belt and an iron stick. The victim collapsed and lost consciousness. He died on the spot, and the perpetrators packed his body into the car and dumped it near a canal bank in Jatragachi, New Town. The body was found the following day.
The driver, Dhali, reportedly drove Barman to Dum Dum Airport in that very car, a day after the murder. The police claim that Dhali and Thapa confessed to the killing during interrogation and implicated Barman. Police said the family of Kamilya filed a formal complaint against Barman on Nov. 6, accusing him of kidnapping the trader and ordering his murder.
What’s next?
The police continue to investigate Barman’s alleged role and are probing how the plan unfolded. The case has attracted attention across West Bengal, as it pits a respected political figure against serious criminal allegations and raises questions about local corruption and abuse of power.
Whether Barman can prove his innocence remains to be seen. For now, the arrests illustrate a growing record of police action in tackling alleged crimes involving political insiders.
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