A day after his driver and a contractor, reportedly close to him, were arrested, Jalpaiguri’s Rajganj Block Development Officer (BDO) Prashanta Barman has come under the scanner in connection with the alleged murder of gold trader Swapan Kamila in New Town, on the outskirts of Kolkata.
Investigators claim to have found evidence suggesting that Barman visited Kolkata around the time when the victim was abducted and later found dead on October 29.
On Saturday, the police arrested Barman’s personal driver Raju Dhali and Tufan Thapa, the contractor, in connection with Kamila’s abduction and murder.
According to sources in the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate, Barman flew from Bagdogra to Kolkata on October 20 by IndiGo flight 6E-6135, occupying seat 25E (middle). The flight landed in Kolkata at 7:45 pm. Nine days later, on October 29, the day Kamila’s body was recovered, Barman returned to Bagdogra from Kolkata on IndiGo flight 6E-6134, which departed at 6:30 pm.
Police sources confirmed that Barman’s name was in the airline’s passenger list. However, the Bidhannagar Commissionerate maintained a cautious stance.
“During the investigation, we verified the flight passenger lists. There may be other individuals with the same name. We have retrieved CCTV footage from the airport’s entry and exit points and are analysing the details. The findings will be shared as the investigation progresses,” a senior official stated.
Meanwhile, the police have begun interrogating Ashok Kar, the main accused in a related gold theft case, which allegedly triggered the sequence of events leading to the murder.
According to investigators, Ashok, originally from Midnapore, had been living in a rented house in Gauranganagar, New Town, and worked as a caretaker at house number 67, AB Block, New Town for about a year. The BDO reportedly visited the five-storey building, where he owns an apartment, frequently. Allegedly, several gold ornaments were stolen from the house and later sold to gold trader Kamila, who owned a shop in Duttabad, Salt Lake.
During questioning, Ashok reportedly confessed to stealing 500–600 grams of gold. He further alleged that the BDO assaulted him upon learning of the theft and under pressure, he revealed Kamila’s name. On the night of October 28, both Ashok and Kamila were allegedly taken to a house in New Town, where they were beaten severely. Kamila’s body was found the following morning in Jatragachi.
The case has raised serious questions about why a senior government officer allegedly took the law into his own hands rather than filing a complaint with the local police.
Barman, however, denied all allegations, calling them a “conspiracy.”
“The CCTV footage recovered by the police is not correct. It is all a conspiracy to tarnish my image. After I took strong steps against corruption in Rajganj, certain groups started plotting against me,” he told the media.
“I did not go to New Town. I am a lawyer with an LLB degree and am soon completing my doctorate. Many used to call me ‘Dabang’ because I worked fearlessly. These allegations are false. However, if the police summon me, I will cooperate fully with the investigation.”
As the investigation deepens, the role of the Rajganj BDO is expected to come under closer scrutiny in what is turning out to be one of the most sensational cases linking the bureaucracy to an alleged criminal conspiracy in recent times.
Also read: Gold trader murdered in Kolkata; BDO’s name surfaces
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