The investigation into the mob lynching of a cattle trader in Tripura's Kalyanpur has gained fresh momentum after the two principal accused surrendered before Kalyanpur police station of Khowai district on Monday night following the rejection of their anticipatory bail pleas.
The accused, Prasenjit Majumdar and Sanjoy Debnath, both residents of Ghilatali, surrendered after failing to secure interim protection from the court. They were produced before the court on Tuesday.
Police had earlier arrested two other accused, Ajit Debnath and Dilu Das, in connection with the case. With the latest surrender, a total of four persons are now in police custody as the investigation intensifies.
Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Kalyanpur police station, Inspector Ashish Sarkar, said the two main accused had been absconding since September. They had reportedly attempted to flee outside the state and had sought anticipatory bail from the Sessions Court and later the High Court. However, after both courts rejected their pleas, they surrendered at the police station on Monday night.
The case relates to the death of 46-year-old cattle trader Jalil Rahman, a resident of the Ghilatali market area, who was allegedly lynched in Bagber area under Ghilatali on the early morning of September 1 after being suspected of cattle theft.
According to the victim's family, Rahman had purchased two cattle from a villager in his own locality and was taking them to a weekly market when a group of people intercepted him on suspicion of cattle theft and brutally assaulted him. He was rushed to Kalyanpur Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. The incident triggered widespread outrage across the area.
Following the incident, the victim's wife, Lilufa Begum, lodged a written complaint with Kalyanpur police station, naming the accused. Based on her complaint, police registered a case under Sections 126(1), 304(2), 103(1), 117(1) and 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
During the course of the investigation, police first arrested Ajit Debnath, followed by Dilu Das. The surrender of the two key accused is expected to provide further leads as investigators continue to examine the circumstances surrounding the killing and identify others who may have been involved.
Earlier, local MLA Pinaki Das Chowdhury visited the bereaved family to offer his condolences and assured them of a fair investigation and strict legal action against those responsible.
Police are continuing their investigation to determine how the mob attack unfolded, identify all those who directly participated in the assault, and ascertain whether others were involved in the lynching.
Meanwhile, Jalil Rahman's grieving parents and family continue to seek justice, hoping that the full truth behind the incident will emerge and that every person responsible for the brutal killing will be brought to justice.