Jharkhand Police have arrested a Kolkata Police sergeant, Ayan Gupta of Beliaghata Traffic Guard and a civic volunteer in connection with the murder of a businessman in Chandil, Jharkhand. Six other people had already been arrested in the case, according to the police.
The Jharkhand Police investigation allegedly found that one of the arrested suspects had been in contact over the phone with the sergeant posted at the Beleghata Traffic Guard. Police also claimed that the suspect, who is allegedly part of a contract-killing team, had spoken to a woman civic volunteer attached to Kolkata Police traffic.
Kolkata cops questioned at Lalbazar
Seeking to establish the nature of the alleged communication, a team of Jharkhand Police summoned the sergeant and the civic volunteer to Kolkata Police headquarters at Lalbazar on Thursday.
The two were questioned by the Jharkhand Police team at the Kolkata Police detective department until late in the evening. The questioning was also videographed, police sources said.
Authorities are examining why the two Kolkata Police personnel were allegedly in contact with a person accused in the murder case.
Businessman shot outside hotel
According to the Jharkhand Police investigation, hotel businessman Nikhar Sablok was shot dead on August 24 outside a hotel near National Highway 33 in the Chandil police station area.
The alleged contract killers reportedly fired nine rounds at him. He suffered bullet injuries to his shoulder, back and neck. He was taken to a hospital in Jamshedpur, where doctors declared him dead.
A Special Investigation Team was subsequently formed to investigate the murder.
Six arrests and searches across states
The investigation led Jharkhand Police teams to conduct searches in Jharkhand, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Six people, including alleged contract killers, were arrested during the probe.
Police suspect that a contract of Rs 15 lakh had been given to kill the businessman. Investigators believe the murder was linked to an alleged dispute over around 3.5 acres of land.
Police examine alleged contact
During the investigation, the SIT allegedly found that one of the arrested suspects had been in contact with the Kolkata Police sergeant. The same suspect had also reportedly spoken to the civic volunteer on several occasions.
SIT officials have described the alleged communication as suspicious and are examining whether the contacts have any connection with the murder.
After questioning the two Kolkata Police personnel at Lalbazar, the Jharkhand Police team videographed the proceedings. Officials also discussed possible legal action in the case, according to police sources.
