CBI makes third arrest in Bengal post-poll violence cases

Ratan Halder was held for allegedly murdering Sovarani Mondal, whose son was known to be a BJP worker

Justice Manjula Chellur.: File picture

Kinsuk Basu   |   TT  |  Calcutta   |   04.09.21 : The CBI has made the third arrest in connection with the alleged political violence following the publication of Assembly election results in Bengal.

Ratan Halder was arrested from Shyamnagar adjoining Jagaddal in North 24-Parganas on Thursday night for allegedly murdering Sovarani Mondal, whose son was known to be a BJP worker.

Senior CBI officers said Sovarani had allegedly been hit with bamboo sticks on the head when she had come to the rescue of her son from assaulters who had attacked her family at Shyamnagar.

A team of CBI officers had reached the district a few days ago for the probe into Sovarani’s murder.

The central investigating agency has been probing into alleged rapes and murders during the post-results violence as ordered by Calcutta High Court on August 19.

Four teams comprising a total of 21 officers and led by four joint directors has been touring parts of the state since the verdict.

On August 28, the CBI had arrested Bijoy Ghosh and Asima Ghosh from Nadia for their alleged involvement in the murder of BJP worker Ayan Mondal.

The CBI on Friday filed a chargesheet against four persons at Barrackpore court in connection with the alleged murder of Jayprakash Yadav, a BJP worker of Bhatpara in North 24-Parganas, on June 6. Yadav was killed following a spate of indiscriminate bombing at Bhatpara.

The four have been charged with murder under Section 302 of the Indian Penal Code.

The CBI had filed another chargesheet in Birbhum on Thursday in connection with the alleged murder of Manoj Jaiswal of Nalhati.

The agency has drawn up 34 cases involving heinous crimes like murder and rape in the aftermath of the poll results in Bengal.

SIT chairperson

Calcutta High Court on Friday appointed Justice (retired) Manjula Chellur as the chairperson of the Special Investigating Team (SIT) that was formed to probe alleged incidents of post-results violence, except murder and rape.

A high court bench headed by Acting Chief Justice Rajesh Bindal had on August 19 directed the state government to form the SIT that comprises police officers.

Justice Chellur had served as the Chief Justice of Calcutta High Court.