Kolkata: Md. Anwarul Azim Anar, a Bangladesh Member of Parliament, who had come to Kolkata reportedly for medical treatment and gone missing more than a week ago, has been “murdered”, ThePrint has learnt from police. His body is yet to be retrieved, and the search operations continue. Three people have reportedly been arrested in Bangladesh.
“We have questioned many people and gone through extensive CCTV footage, and that is how we can confirm that he has been murdered,” said a senior police officer of the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate on condition of anonymity.
He added that a murder investigation under Section 302 (punishment for murder) of the Indian Penal Code is underway under the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate. Later, West Bengal CID took over the probe.
Bangladesh Home Minister Asaduzzaman Khan reportedly said at his residence in Dhaka, “MP Anwarul Azim Anar has been killed in Kolkata, and three have been arrested in Bangladesh.”
Senior officers of New Town Police under the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate remained tightlipped about developments. The New Town Police has not yet confirmed the murder, about which ThePrint has learnt from the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate.
Speaking to ThePrint, a senior officer of New Town Police Station said that an inquiry is ongoing based on a complaint filed at the Baranagar Police Station. “We have not received any complaint yet but are inquiring into the case. So far, we have not found any crime scene or recovered a body,” said the officials.
The official confirmed that Central agencies are involved in the high-profile “murder” mystery unfolding on the outskirts of Kolkata but declined to name any agency or confirm the number of agencies investigating the matter involving neighbouring Bangladesh, which shares close ties with India.
Bangladesh PM Sheikh Hasina shares cordial ties with West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.
According to the Police, Anwarul Azim Anar, a three-time MP of the ruling Awami League in Bangladesh, went missing on the intervening night of 13 and 14 May. He entered Kolkata on 12 May via the Darshana border to undergo treatment, Bangladesh media outlets reported.
The search operation started immediately after one Gopal Biswas lodged a missing complaint at the Baranagar Police Station under the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate. The police also confirmed to ThePrint that no persons have been detained yet in the probe.
Sources in the Deputy High Commission for the People’s Republic of Bangladesh said they have not received any information from local authorities in West Bengal and are yet to confirm the report.
Speaking to the media in Dhaka, Inspector General of Bangladesh Police Chowdhury Abdullah Al-Mamun said, “We haven’t heard officially from the authorities in Kolkata regarding the news. We are cooperating with them and are in constant touch with them. We know they are searching. We can only confirm once we get an official communication. We cannot disclose what information is being exchanged at this point, while the investigation is on. We have not been able to confirm if he is alive.”
ThePrint has reached the office of the Deputy High Commission of Bangladesh in Kolkata via email, and the Union ministry of external affairs via texts. This report will be updated if and when responses are received.
The Bangladesh High Commission in Delhi is yet to be officially informed by the Kolkata police of any development in the case, sources said. The mission in Kolkata is “overseeing” the matter, they added.
This report has been updated with the Bangladesh home minister’s comment on three people having been arrested.
(Edited by Madhurita Goswami)
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