Trader killing triggers arson

A photograph of Dipankar Roy from his Facebook account; the house of Mankumar Rai in flames.
(Kundan Yolmo)

TT, Siliguri, Jan. 5: A young businessman known for his helpful nature in his locality was found murdered in Siliguri this morning, for which his family and friends have blamed drug peddlers in the area, though police have said killing could be the “the fallout of some rivalry”.

Dipankar Roy, a 29-year-old who owned three beauty salons on Sevoke Road, was beaten to death, police have said.

Three youths — Ganesh Chhetri, Milan Rai and Krishna Rai — have been arrested. All are residents of Limbu Busty, where Dipankar’s body was found this morning.

One of Dipankar’s friends, who was with him before he was taken away by five youths, pointed to an incident on Saturday when the salon owner had warned Mithun Roy, a resident of nearby Limbu Busty, not to peddle contraband substances in Bhaktinagar’s Sarkarpara, where the businessman stayed.

According to Dipankar’s friend Sayan Biswas, last night Dipankar got a call from Mithun to meet him near NH31. When Sayan and Dipankar reached there, Mithun and some other youths with him took Dipankar away with them in the direction of Limbu Busty, off NH31.

Sayan said he immediately went to the nearby Bhaktinagar police station and told them that his friend had been taken away but the police delayed in taking action.

Some residents of Sarkarpara demonstrated in front of the Bhaktinagar police station, alleging that the law enforcers had been informed about Dipankar’s abduction but didn’t do anything to rescue him.

Mithun and Mankumar Rai, who runs a transport syndicate and whom Dipankar’s family alleges had a hand in the murder, are untraceable.

“My brother was a popular face in the locality and would respond to people’s requests for help. Recently, some youths from outside our area started gathering in our locality and were seen consuming drugs and liquor. Dipankar had approached those youths and warned them,” said Debasish, Dipankar’s elder brother.

Asked about what had happened last night, Sayan said: “Mithun Roy called Dipankar up and asked him to come near a police check post (around 200m from Bhaktinagar police station on NH31). Mithun told Dipankar that he wanted certain issues to be resolved through talks. Dipankar asked me to take him there on my motorcycle.”

When Dipankar walked up to Mithun, “four-five youths surrounded him. They told him to sit on a motorcycle and headed for Limbu Busty,” Sayan said. “I immediately went to Bhaktinagar police station. The police didn’t heed my plea to rescue him.”

Around noon, some youths set fire to a shanty from where Mankumar’s transport syndicate used to operate. Later, his house at Limbu Busty was torched. No one died in the two instances of arson.

Trinamul leaders, who went to Sarkarpara this morning, said Mankumar was a CPM worker and Dipankar was their supporter. The family of Dipankar has not said anything on this matter yet.

Jag Mohan, the commissioner of Siliguri metropolitan police, said three men had been arrested.

“Searches are on to catch four others. The murder might be the fallout of a rivalry,” he said.