Bengal: CBI makes another arrest in murder of BJP worker in Kolkata

Kolkata, Aug 11 (IANS) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Tuesday arrested one more person in connection with its ongoing probe into the murder of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) worker Avijit Sarkar, who was killed during post‑poll violence following the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.

The arrested person has been identified as Vishal Paul, also known as Gopal Das. He was taken into custody by CBI sleuths from Madhyamgram in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal. Officials said he had been absconding for a long time.

Last week, the CBI arrested another absconding accused in the case, Arup Das, from Assam.

On July 1 this year, a special CBI court in Kolkata framed charges against 19 accused, including former Trinamool Congress legislator Pares Paul and ex‑KMC councillor Swapan Samaddar, in the murder case of Avijit Sarkar. Both Paul and Samaddar had faced questioning by the CBI multiple times.

After the results of the 2021 Assembly elections were announced, BJP worker Avijit Sarkar from the Kankurgachi area in North Kolkata was brutally murdered, allegedly by Trinamool activists. Family members alleged that he was tortured and killed.

Based on the family’s complaint, Narkeldanga Police Station started an initial investigation and filed a chargesheet against 15 people.

Later, the CBI took over the investigation following orders of the Calcutta High Court. The agency submitted an additional chargesheet naming a total of 20 accused. The erstwhile officer‑in‑charge and a lady sub‑inspector of Kankurgachi Police Station were also arrested.

In their bail case, the court raised the question of how society could function if protectors played the roles of killers. Family members of the deceased BJP worker also expressed anger at the pace of the CBI’s investigation.

After the recently concluded West Bengal Assembly polls, new Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari announced that not a single person involved in any case relating to the 2021 post‑poll violence would be spared.

–IANS

src/dan