BJP leader arrested for murder in S Dinajpur

Malda: A BJP Yuva Morcha leader and a party worker are among three persons arrested for the murder of a 48-year-old gold merchant in Hili block of

South Dinajpur

. The three have been remanded in police custody for seven days.

Victim Pradip Karmakar was shot at on his way home from his shop at Tior in Hili on Friday night, in what police primarily suspect to be a snatching attempt gone wrong. Karmakar succumbed to his wound on the way to Malda Medical College.

A bike abandoned by the shooters was first seized from the spot and it led police to arrest Subrata Mali, Prasanta Sahani and Sourav Ghosh on Saturday. Mali, the Hilli block secretary of BJP Yuva Morcha, was suspended by the party soon after his arrest.

Interrogation has revealed that Ghosh, an active BJP worker who owns a shop near that of the victim, plotted the snatching. He roped in Mali and Sahani, the latter a resident of Kolkata who was visiting

Balurghat

. The gang, which comprised at least three more persons, was forced to kill Karmakar because he managed to identify some of them.

South Dinajpur SP Rahul De said: “Those arrested have confessed to the crime. We first found the bike, which belongs to Subrata Mali. We are looking for three more persons.”

Mali’s arrest has sent ripples through local political circles. BJP district president Binoy Burman said: “Our party workers are being harassed with false charges. Nevertheless, Mali has been suspended till he proves himself innocent in court.” Trinamool leader Subhash Chaki said: “The BJP believes in violence and it has been proved once again.”


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