Malda murder: Rs 2L for info leading to 2 key conspirators
Times of India | 6 January 2025
Malda: Police on Sunday sought information from the public on the alleged key conspirators behind the Jan 2 murder of Trinamool Congress's Malda vice-president Dulal Sarkar, announcing a Rs 2 lakh reward for any information leading to their arrest. Bablu Yadav and Krishna Rajak, who are now on the run, were known to Sarkar and lived in Jaljhalia, close to where the TMC neta was gunned down in broad daylight.
Police said the names of the two surfaced during the interrogation of five persons arrested in the case. Among those arrested is Amit Rajak, Krishna's brother. Locals said that the brothers as well as Yadav were known as "Sarkar's men" and used to attend party meetings presided over by him.
Yadav's wife Sucharita Yadav said: "I have not had a relationship with my husband for a long time, even though we live in the same house. I've filed a case regarding our separation. He has not come home since the day of the murder. Police have interrogated me and I assured them of all possible cooperation. Sarkar was not only our leader but also our protector. I received immense help from him. If I had known my husband was conspiring against him, I would have gone to the police myself."
Yadav, his family said, had a connection with Jharkhand's Sahebganj. Among the five arrested for Sarkar's murder, two are from Bihar's Katihar.
Rajak's family, who live in Jhaljhalia's Railway Colony, also expressed gratitude to Sarkar. Neighbours claimed that some outsiders had been staying in the house with Krishna.
Sarkar's widow Chaitali Sarkar, a TMC councillor of English Bazaar Municipality, however, said she was not convinced by the police probe and was planning to meet CM Mamata Banerjee. "I know that police arrested a few people and circulated posters for two. But they are merely pawns. They would not have had the audacity to commit this crime had they not been assured of protection by a powerful politician. I'll go to Didi after the funeral to request that no culprit be shielded," she said.
The Trinamool councillor added: "Despite multiple requests, my husband was not provided personal security. Every