Trinamul leaders, Habibur Rahman, 57, of Murshidabad, and Biplab Roy, 48, of Bankura were killed late on Saturday.

Rahman, general-secretary of Trinamul-run Kakgram gram panchayat, was found dead with his throat slit, possibly for the cash he had on him.

Roy, a well-known party worker in Bankura’s Taldangra was beaten to death, allegedly for opposing the re-entry of Trinamul turncoats.

Rahman, also husband of gram panchayat member Rupadi Biwi, also was carrying a “heavy sum of cash” on him. His son alleged Rahman was killed for the money and named an acquaintance. K. Sabari Rajkumar, the SP, said they started a probe and had set up a watchpost in Bahara village where the crime occurred.

In the Roy case, eight arrests were made on Sunday. Trinamul sources called it a political murder by “pre-election turncoats” as Roy opposed their bid to join Trinamul again after the Assembly elections.

Two hitmen from Narkeldanga in Calcutta were arrested by Burdwan police on Sunday in connection with the October 23 murder of trader Sabyasachi Mondal. Police said more people are involved in the murder.