In a significant development in the shocking abduction and murder case of a Jalpaiguri gold trader, the Bidhannagar Commissionerate police have made two crucial arrests while naming a Block Development Officer (BDO) as an accused.
Key Arrests Made in Gold Merchant Murder Case
Bidhannagar police have arrested Raju Dhali and Tufan Thapa, both described as close associates of Rajganj Block Development Officer Prashant Barman. The arrests come in connection with the kidnapping and brutal murder of Duttabad gold merchant Swapan Kamilya, who was abducted on October 28 and found dead the following day.
According to police authorities, the investigation gained momentum after Kamilya's family filed a formal complaint on November 4, leading to the registration of a case. Deputy Commissioner of Police Aneesh Sarkar confirmed the arrests on Saturday, stating that both individuals have been remanded to police custody for twelve days following their production before a court.
BDO Named as Accused in FIR
In a dramatic turn of events, Prashant Barman has been officially named in the First Information Report related to the murder case. Police sources indicate that his role is under active investigation, though the government official has previously denied all allegations, characterizing them as part of a conspiracy against him.
The arrested individuals have been identified as Raju Dhali, who previously served as Barman's driver in Kolkata, and Tufan Thapa, a north Bengal contractor known to maintain close ties with the BDO. Police operations led to Dhali's detention in New Town, North 24 Parganas, on Friday night, while Thapa was apprehended in north Bengal before being transported to Bidhannagar for questioning.
Interrogation Reveals Chilling Details
During police interrogation, Dhali confessed that both arrested accused were present during the incident when Kamilya's body was allegedly transported and disposed of. The investigation has uncovered a complex web of events originating from an alleged theft of gold from Barman's residence.
Police sources reveal that Ashok Kar, one of the staff members at the BDO's residence, allegedly stole gold and provided it to the deceased jeweler. Kar further claimed that the gold merchant melted the stolen gold, triggering a violent confrontation.
According to Kar's account, the BDO and several others took him and Kamilya to a house in AB Block, Salt Lake, where they subjected the gold merchant to severe beating using belts and sticks. Kar specifically identified the BDO, his driver, and a close contractor as being present during this assault.
Bidhannagar South police are currently investigating the case with CCTV footage serving as crucial evidence. The victim's body was recovered from New Town on October 29, merely one day after the alleged abduction occurred. The investigation continues as authorities pursue additional leads in this complex case that has sent shockwaves through the community.
