PK house murder: Locals seek regular checks, CCTV cover
Times of India | 17 March 2025
12 Kolkata: In the wake of a murder at football legend PK Banerjee's residence in Salt Lake's GD Block — where a caretaker was stabbed to death during a drunken clash with the late footballer's former driver on Holi evening — cops and block representatives have issued an advisory for absentee homeowners.
Owners of Salt Lake homes — particularly those who remain away or reside abroad — are being urged to install CCTV cameras, monitor their domestic staff vigilantly, and register the details of all employees staying on their property with the police regularly.
"The incident has sent shockwaves through our township," said Arunava Das, president of Salt Lake's BA Block Residents' Association. "Many homes here belong to elderly individuals or those whose families live abroad. These homes often depend on caretakers, drivers, and domestic staff, who sometimes engage in illicit activities, causing trouble for absentee owners. We are advising residents to maintain a vigilant watch over their employees."
In Friday's incident, the deceased, Gopinath Muhuri (48), worked in the Banerjee's house for over two decades. Barun Ghosh, the assailant, was also employed for over 12 years, as were the other staff members at the house, while Banerjee's two daughters mostly stayed away.
Police confirmed the Banerjee house had multiple CCTVs, but none are functional currently.
Following the incident, cops have asked block representatives to make a list of houses that do not have any occupants, houses where owners are absent and are managed by caretakers, and those houses where owners are too sick and are again dependent on outside help.
"We have prepared one such list and have handed it over to the cops. There will be a meeting soon with the policemen later this month, and we will discuss more steps that can be taken to avoid such clashes between home staff that bring trouble to house owners," said Gora Roy, secretary of CF Block Residents Association.
A senior Salt Lake resident and president of another Salt Lake block committee said such skirmishes among staff are often the handiwork of land sharks and realtors who use such tactics to force homeowners staying away to sell off their property at a cheap price. "It may not be true in PK Banerjee's home case. But across multiple blocks, promoters are using the staff to endorse such troubles within the home compound," he said.
Some residents' associations, such as AE Block Samaj Kalyan Sangha, have taken proactive steps to monitor absentee-owner properties and support senior citizens.
"We have formed block committees to check on elderly residents and keep a watch on abandoned buildings to prevent illegal activities," said AE Block secretary Tapas Sengupta.
FC Block Welfare Association joint secretary Nilanjan Brahma has also appealed to absentee homeowners to enforce strict rules, such as prohibiting staff from consuming alcohol or inviting outsiders onto the premises.