Two More Detained in Murshidabad Triple Murder Case as BJP Protests Against Killing of Its 'Workers'

Kolkata: Two persons, including a school teacher, were detained on Saturday in connection with the sensational triple murder case in West Bengal's Murshidabad district.

On October 9, a school teacher, his pregnant wife, and their son were found murdered at their house in Jiagunj area of Murshidabad. The deceased were identified as Bandhu Prakash Pal, 35, his wife Beauty, 31, and their son Angan, 8.

As part of the probe, a team of police officers on Saturday morning raided a house in Hooghly's Rampurhat area and picked up a person. Another, identified as Shoubhik Bhowmik, was detained from Suri in Birbhum.

Although the role of the accused is yet to be ascertained, the police confirmed that Pal had a bitter relationship with his wife and had also borrowed a huge sum of money in the form of a loan from local real estate developers.

Investigating officers have zeroed their probe on possible angles, including non-repayment of loan by Pal, a possible extramarital affair, and a property-related issue.

Assistant Superintendent of Police Tanmoy Sarkar said, "We have recovered a diary from Bandhu Prakash Pal's house. It seems the diary belongs to his wife. Based on its content, it is clear there was marital discord between them."

Bandhu’s neighbours, Krishna Sarkar and Ratan Kumar Das, told cops they had seen a youth running out of Pal's house on October 9. Based on their statement, the police prepared a sketch of possible suspects.

During the investigation, it was found that Pal's father, Amar, married another woman without legally divorcing his first wife, Maya (Pal's mother). Ever since, Maya had problems with her husband over property-related issues.

Pal was a teacher at Gosaigram Sahapara Primary School.

The RSS Bengal unit claimed that he was actively involved in work related to the Sangh and had recently been working on spreading "weekly milan (congregation)" in the district.

However, his family members denied that he was associated with RSS, BJP, the Trinamool Congress, or any other political parties in the past.

“It is absolutely wrong to say that he was associated with any political organisation and the RSS. It is unfortunate that people are politicising the matter,” said Pal's brother-in-law Diptiman Sarkar.

Meanwhile, the West Bengal BJP has sought an appointment with Union Home Minister Amit Shah and President Ram Nath Kovind on October 15 to brief them about the deteriorating law and order situation in the state.

The state unit organised a sit-in here on Saturday to protest against the alleged killing of its workers in recent times. The triple murder had acquired political overtones on Thursday with the BJP and West Bengal Governor Jagdeep Dhankhar hitting out at the Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government.

The saffron party claimed that eight of its party workers were killed in Bengal in the last week, excluding the triple murder in Murshidabad district.

The West Bengal police had, however, said the brutal triple murders were a result of personal enmity and bore no political connotation.

"Everyday one or the other BJP worker is being killed in Bengal. The TMC government has lost all connect with the masses and is now trying to rule by using terror tactics. But we won't allow this to happen. We will fight till this government is ousted from power," BJP West Bengal president Dilip Ghosh said.

(With inputs from PTI)