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After 4-year manhunt, CBI arrests prime accused in Bengal BJP worker’s post-poll murder
The incident occurred on May 2, 2021, the day the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared. Arun Dey (50) was arrested on Thursday.
The BJP worker, Abhijit Sarkar, was murdered on May 2, 2021, the day the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared. (Express file photo)
Four years after a BJP worker’s murder in an alleged incident of post-poll violence, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) arrested prime accused Arun Dey (50), also known as ‘Bhai’, from Teghoria near Kolkata on Thursday.
The BJP worker, Abhijit Sarkar, was murdered on May 2, 2021, the day the West Bengal Assembly election results were declared.
Dey was apprehended on Thursday morning and subsequently produced in a local court, which remanded him to judicial custody until July 4.
Sarkar’s brother Biswajit expressed satisfaction over the arrest. “Arun was one of the absconding accused who had been changing locations. Though we tried to share leads and help the CBI, he managed to evade arrest until now. I am happy,” he stated.
According to the CBI, 20 individuals were named in the FIR for this case, and charges have already been framed against all of them in connection with Sarkar’s murder in the Kankurgachi area. So far, 15 people have been arrested, with five more still allegedly absconding.
Sarkar’s family alleged that he was strangled and then hit on the head with a heavy object. Biswajit claimed local TMC leaders had “threatened them with severe consequences” during the elections.
Two years after the murder, the court framed charges against the 20 accused. These charges include murder, disappearance of evidence, and criminal conspiracy. The next hearing in the case is scheduled for July 4.
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The CBI took over the investigation on August 25, 2021, registering an FIR after an order from the Calcutta High Court to probe incidents of alleged post-poll violence. Initially, a case was registered against seven to eight unidentified persons at the Narkeldanga police station in Kolkata on May 2, 2021.
It was alleged that the accused attacked the BJP worker with sticks and damaged his household items. Sarkar was rushed to a hospital but he succumbed to his injuries.
The accused named in the CBI chargesheet include Sanjay Samanta, Samir Samanta, Sankar Das alias Buno, Arun Dey, Rahul Dey, Sourav Dey, Sukhdeb Poddar, Amit Das, Arup Das, Biswajit Das, Sanjay Barik, Amit Das, Tumpa Das alias Kali, Gopal Das, Papiya Barik, Sanjay Basak, Sufal Bose, Sanjay Dey alias Suvo, Abhijit Dey, and Kajal Das.
© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd
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