The CBI is winding up a special investigation unit it had set up to probe into cases of alleged post-poll violence in Bengal, sources in the central agency said.

Now, with the unit getting dismantled, the probe will be centralised under the CBI's special crime branch.

Four units under the special investigation unit were set up to probe cases of alleged post-poll violence in parts of north and south Bengal. Calcutta High Court had on August 19, 2021, directed the CBI to investigate incidents involving murder, rape and attempt to rape.

Over the next few months, the CBI went on to register over 55 cases of post-poll violence and submitted several chargesheets before the court.

"All the cases of post-poll violence in Bengal have been consolidated and brought under a team of the special crime branch (of the CBI) in Calcutta. Officers drawn from different units across the country for the special investigation unit have now been asked to return to their parent units," said an officer.

The decision to consolidate all cases of "post-poll violence" comes within days of the central agency arresting two persons who had been allegedly absconding since the murder of Abhijit Sarkar, a BJP worker, in Kankurgachi after Bengal Assembly poll results were announced on May 2, 2021.

Accused Sanjay Barik and Papiya Barik were arrested from a workshop near Kestopur on Wednesday.