Siliguri, 18th December: In the ongoing investigation of the Pushpa Chhetri murder case, the fourth accused, Arun Portel, a paramilitary soldier, has been arrested by the police. On Monday, a special team from Bhakti Nagar police apprehended Arun in Amritsar, Punjab. He was taken into custody under a 10-day transit remand and is now transported to Siliguri for further legal proceedings.
As per reports, on November 8, the police discovered the blood-soaked body of Pushpa Chhetri, a young woman, in the Bhanu Nagar area of Siliguri. The police swiftly launched an investigation into the incident. During the investigation, it was revealed that Arun Portel, who works in a para-military force stationed in Punjab, conspired with his wife, Pratika Portel, to arrange the murder. They allegedly paid a contract killer a sum of one lakh rupees to execute the crime to end Arun’s extramarital affair.
The police made a breakthrough in the case when they arrested Arun’s wife, Pratika Portel, and a hired assassin, Rustam Vishwakarma, on November 15, from Malbazar. Subsequently, another contract killer, Abhijit Darji, was arrested from Chennai on November 18. The arrests led to the search for the main suspect, Arun Portel.
After arriving in Punjab, the special team of Bhakti Nagar police station completed the necessary legal formalities with the paramilitary authorities before apprehending Arun Portel. Following his arrest, the police presented him in Amritsar court, where he was granted a transit remand. The team is now en route to Siliguri with Arun for further investigation.
Rakesh Singh, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP) of Siliguri Metropolitan, confirmed Arun Portel’s arrest. He stated that the accused would be presented in the Jalpaiguri court upon his arrival in Siliguri, where the police would seek his remand for further legal action.