Kolkata: A lathe owner, Md Zakir Khan alias Lili, was arrested for the murder of construction material contractor Arif Khan in Uttar Panchannagram on Friday. Arif was murdered close to his residence, the incident leaving locals shocked. This is the first arrest in the case.
“Md Zakir Khan alias Lili, a lathe owner, has been arrested in this murder case.He is one of three persons who attacked the victim along with Abbas. In the CCTV footage, he, along with Abbas, are seen attacking Arif with a chopper,” said additional CP (I) Murlidhar Sharma.
Abbas continues to evade arrest. Cops said Zakir, like Abbas and Arif, is a local. “The accused has not been speaking much. We are trying to ascertain the motive behind the murder,” said DC (East) Arish Bilal. Sources said the accused might have been hired by Abbas to murder Arif.
A senior officer from Lalbazar claimed the murder was planned due to a long-standing conflict. According to the call detail records of Arif, he was summoned for a discussion to reach a compromise. Abbas’s group was waiting in front of the house at 36D, Topsia Road, where Arif was attacked.
The police have collected footage from the CCTV camera installed at the house, which shows Arif being repeatedly stabbed in the neck, shoulder and chest. Even after he fell to the ground, the attackers continued to stab him.
Abbas’s father said, “I couldn’t raise my son properly. He married young and now doesn’t spend time with his wife. He roams around with his gang and indulges in drugs.”