The CBI on Wednesday arrested Palash Sheikh, a.k.a. Faizul, in connection with the murder of Trinamul-run gram panchayat deputy chief Bhadu Sheikh, whose death allegedly triggered the March 21 carnage in Birbhum’s Bogtui that claimed 10 lives.

Sources said Palash was a prime accused in Bhadu’s murder. He was produced at a Rampurhat court on Wednesday afternoon and sent to eight days in CBI custody.

“The CBI told the court that the arrest had been made for the purpose of reconstruction of the crime,” said Surajit Sinha, assistant public prosecutor in Rampurhat court.

In September, Sona Sheikh, the owner of the one-storey house from where seven charred bodies were recovered in the March 21 Bogtui carnage, was also arrested by the CBI in connection with the murder of Bhadu.

The CBI had by then already arrested 10 persons in connection with the murder of Bhadu and had filed a chargesheet against four persons at a Rampurhat court. Sources said the CBI arrested Palash from Bogtui after he returned to his home from a hideout, to which he had reportedly been absconding since March 21.

Bhadu, deputy chief of the Trinamul-run Barshal gram panchayat, was killed on March 21 when criminals hurled crude bombs at him while he was engaged in a cellphone conversation by National Highway 14.

Following his murder, a group of nearly 80 goons had raided Bogtui village and set fire to multiple houses including that of Sona's. The CBI has as of Wednesday arrested 35 people in connection with the Bogtui carnage.