The special investigating team of Purulia police probing the June 15 murder of Trinamul Congress leader Dhananjay Choubey, arrested one of the prime accused, Arzu Malik from Bihar, on Tuesday night.
Arzu has been taken into custody for interrogation.
Purulia police superintendent Abhijit Banerjee said that Arzu, a resident of Jamui district in Bihar, and the two persons arrested earlier in connection with Choubey’s murder had masterminded the crime together.
“We have also recovered one improvised pistol from Arzu. We are investigating whether the weapon was used in the murder. Arzu also has a criminal record in Bokaro (Jharkhand). We have taken him into custody for further interrogation,” Banerjee added.
“We came to know that Arzu had supplied the shooters and arms to murder Dhananjay Choubey,” said an investigating officer.
Dhananjay Choubey, Trinamul leader and the Adra town president, was shot dead in front of his party office on June 15 evening.
Three persons on a motorbike shot seven roundsat Choubey, killing him onthe spot.
Choubey’s security guard Sekhar Das suffered bullet injuries.
Police have maintained that professional shooters were engaged in the crime.
“We will arrest the shooters soon after interrogating those already in our custody,” said Banerjee.
Police said that while interrogating Mohammed Jamal and Arshad Hossain, who were earlier arrested, they came to know about the role of Arzu in the murder.
Arshad Hossain is a Congress candidate contesting from Boko gram panchayat.
The Trinamul leadership in Purulia has been accusing the Congress and the BJP of murdering Choubey, alleging that he was killed because he was a capable organiser for Bengal’s ruling party in the locality.
However, the police on Wednesday said the murder appeared to be the fallout of rivalry over taking control of the auction syndicate of railway scrap iron at Adra town.
Adra is home to the divisional railway headquarters.
“No political connection has so far been found in connection with Choubey’s murder. The murder is primarily related to the railway scrap auction syndicate,” said a senior police officer.
