The CBI has learnt the names of two persons who were with Jharkhand-based criminal Kalebar Singh during the murder of Congress councillor Tapan Kandu in Jhalda on March 13.

CBI sources said Jabir Ansari and Jayant Singh of Bokaro, Jharkhand, were with Kalebar at the time of the murder.

“Jabir was the sharpshooter Kalebar hired to kill Tapan Kandu. Jayant, whom Kalebar called his relative, was riding pillion with Jabir,” said a CBI source. Kalebar, who is also from Bokaro, rode the bike.

CBI sleuths went to Jharkhand looking for Jabir and Jayant. Their mobile tower location was found in Bokaro but the duo could not be nabbed. Their phones are switched off.

A central forensic team on Sunday visited the murder spot with four eyewitnesses Subhash Gorai, Jadab Rajak, Pradip Chourasia and Subhash Karmakar. The team also visited the home of eyewitness and Tapan’s friend Niranjan Baishnab who allegedly killed himself on April 6 and in a purported suicide note blamed police pressure. The forensic team will examine the note.

On Sunday, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari went to Jhalda and called on the family members of Tapan and Niranjan.

Accused Naren Kandu, Mohammad Ashik Khan and Satyaban Pramanik were produced before the Purulia chief judicial magistrate court on Sunday after their CBI custody ended on Sunday. The court sent them to judicial custody till April 27.

Naren was Tapan’s cousin who allegedly hired Kalebar through Ashik and Satyaban to eliminate his brother. His son Dipak is already in jail custody.