Kolkata, Oct 27 (PTI) The prime accused in the murder of a BJP worker was allegedly killed in a gun battle with CID sleuths in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district on Tuesday while attempting to escape from custody, a senior officer of the agency said.
The incident took place hours after a rape-murder accused was similarly gunned down by police personnel when he allegedly snatched a firearm and opened fire on law enforcers during crime reconstruction in North 24 Parganas district.
“Samayun Sheikh, the prime accused in the murder of BJP worker Sujit Mondal and dismemberment of his body, was taken to Old Dak Bungalow area in Samserganj police station area by a team of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) to recreate the sequence of events leading to the crime.
“Suddenly, he tried to escape by snatching the firearm of an officer and opening fire on the team. In retaliatory firing, he sustained gunshot wounds and was taken to Jangipur Sub-divisional Hospital, where doctors declared him dead,” the officer told PTI.
The incident triggered tension in the area, prompting the deployment of a large police contingent to maintain law and order, he added.
Mondal, a resident of Samserganj, went missing on August 28. His body parts were later found, and it came to light that he had been murdered and his body chopped into pieces.
The victim’s family and locals accused the police of negligence and inaction.
Several police officers were suspended over alleged negligence, while the then inspector-in-charge of Samserganj police station was transferred.
The investigation was later handed over to the CID, which intensified the probe and arrested Sheikh, identified as the prime accused in the case. PTI SCH ACD
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