The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) has made the first arrest in the case of the hanging of BJP worker Trilochan Mahato at Purulia district. The death has been ruled as murder.
Punjabi Mahato, 45, was arrested on Sunday after “thorough interrogation” at the Balarampur Police Station. Nishat Pervez of the CID said the arrest was made “on the basis of circumstantial and strong evidence”. Punjabi Mahato belongs to the same village as Trilochon Mahato.
The evidence comprises two mobile phones and two SIM cards that were hidden in Punjabi Mahato’s house. These items are currently being forensically examined. A senior CID official told The Hindu that his behaviour was reported to be suspicious on the day the body was discovered. So far, the motive is unclear.
The same source stated that though the post-mortem report is yet to arrive, prima facie study of the body showed that the victim had been poisoned and tortured before the hanging took place.
Trilochan Mahato’s death was followed by the hanging of Dulal Kumar, a worker of the same party. Both hangings took place in the same district between May 29 and June 2.
However, the latter case has been declared to be one of suicide.