Siliguri, 14th December: An atmosphere of unsettling tension and horrors ensued in the area after a blood-soaked body of a youth was found in the Baikunthapur forest on December 12. While the news spread like wildfire, the cops of Ashighar Out Post under Siliguri Metropolitan Police rushed to recover the body. The youth was found face-down and a boulder stone lying next to him.
The deceased was later identified as Ram Prasad Saha. Locals said that he was infamous for his substance abuse and often used to loiter in the Baikunthapur forest area in an intoxicated condition. On seeing several injury marks on his face, police initially suspected that Ram Prasad was either attacked by the stone during a quarrel with someone or he might have tripped while walking and may have hit his head.
While the body was sent to the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital for postmortem, police detained two of Ram Prasad’s close aides for questioning. Siliguri Police Commissioner Akhilesh Chaturvedi, DCP Joy Tudu, ACP Shubhendra Kumar and DD ACP Rajen Chhetri also reached to inspect the spot the following day.
According to police sources, both the detainees, identified as Subroto Das (22) and Ajay Roy (24), were taken into custody after it was learned that the deceased was last seen alive in the company of the accused. And also that they were the ones to inform Ram Prasad’s family about his death. On Wednesday, 24 hours after the murder, the police maintained that the duo confessed their crime during the interrogation.
As per the new developments, the deceased Ram Prasad Saha had left his house and reached Baikatpur forest on Monday afternoon. He met Subroto there and both initially consumed intoxicants together. Following this, Ram Prasad allegedly asked Subroto for money and the matter eventually led to a fight. As the quarrel escalated, Subroto hit Ram Prasad several times on his face with a stone lying nearby, killing him on the spot. In an attempt to save himself, Subroto informed about Ram’s death to his family members.
While Subroto has confessed to his crime, he mentioned Ajay was a part of it too. Cops are now looking for Ajay Roy’s involvement in the case. The duo will further be interrogated on police remand. They were presented in the Jalpaiguri court today after registering a case of murder.