Bogtui carnage: CBI finds diaries from Bhadu Sheikh's house

The TMC deputy chief of Barshal gram panchayat was murdered on the evening of March 21, which is widely believed to have sparked off the carnage at Bogtui village

The police had arrested 20 people named in the FIR.: File photo.

Snehamoy Chakraborty   |   TT  |  Calcutta   |   12.04.22  : The CBI on Sunday night found at least two diaries and some documents, among other items, during a three-hour search at the deceased Trinamul leader Bhadu Sheikh’s house in Bogtui village that could reveal the accounts of his illegal businesses.

The Trinamul deputy chief of Barshal gram panchayat was murdered on the evening of March 21, which is widely believed to have sparked off the carnage at Bogtui village that same night that left nine persons dead.

Bhadu used to run a illegal racket of extortion from sand, stone and cattle businesses in Rampurhat subdivision of Birbhum. Bogtui falls under Rampurhat.

“We will check the diaries that have jottings of many figures of amounts to ascertain if those were related to the details of his business. However, it is too early to confirm anything,” said a CBI source.

Multiple sources confirmed that Bhadu used to run an extortion racket and keep many influential persons “happy”. He was also allegedly close to several police officers.

The CBI is now simultaneously investigating both cases — Bhadu’s murder and the carnage that followed  —  on orders of Calcutta High Court.

The central agency on Sunday arrested Samir Sheikh, the father-in-law of the absconding prime accused in the carnage, Lalon Sheikh. On Monday the agency took Samir in custody for four days after he was produced before Rampurhat court.

“I am the victim of a conspiracy. I was not involved in anything,” said Samir.

The CBI also questioned five others in CBI custody in the Bhadu murder case.

Eight family members of the seven persons found dead and charred from the house of Sona Sheikh in Bogtui on the morning of March 22 were brought by the CBI at Rampurhat Medical College and Hospital to collect their samples for the DNA test.

“The DNA of these relatives will be matched with the earlier samples (of the bodies) to confirm the identity of all the seven bodies,” said a CBI source.