States » EastPosted at: Sep 28 2026 10:31PM


Bengal CM deploys STF, CID after BJP Booth President Chandan Bhalla shot dead in Bolpur

Bolpur, Sep 28 (UNI) The murder of a local BJP leader in Bolpur has prompted the West Bengal government to bring the Special Task Force (STF) and Criminal Investigation Department (CID) into the investigation.
Chandan Bhalla, 42, the BJP booth president of Bolpur ward 12, was shot dead on Sunday night. He suffered a bullet injury to the head and was declared brought dead at Bolpur Sub-Divisional Hospital.
According to Dubrajpur MLA Dhruba Saha, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has directed the STF and CID to assist the Birbhum district police in the investigation. He also asked party leaders to visit Bhalla's family and extend support to them.
Bolpur BJP organisational district president Shyampada Mondal said local party leaders were in Kolkata for a meeting with BJP national president Nitin Nabin when they received news of the killing. Nabin subsequently asked them to return to Bolpur.
Birbhum Superintendent of Police Vidit Raj Bhundesh said the killing appeared to have been planned. Police have secured the crime scene and forensic experts have collected samples. A canine squad has also been deployed to search for clues along a two-kilometre stretch between Trishulpatty and Arati More.
Police are examining eyewitness accounts, mobile phone records and tower location data as there were no CCTV cameras near the spot where the shooting took place. No arrests have been made so far.
An eyewitness, Abhijit Ghosh, told police that two men on a motorcycle allegedly shot Bhalla from close range before fleeing. According to his statement, the pillion rider fired the shot while the motorcycle rider had covered his face with a gamcha.
Investigators are examining several possible angles, including the possibility that the attackers were hired shooters from neighbouring Jharkhand, although this has not been established.
Bhalla's family, meanwhile, has alleged a political motive behind the killing. His wife, Shyamali Bhalla, suspected the involvement of the Trinamool Congress and recalled that their house had been vandalised in 2021, after which the family had left the area for around two months. The allegation has not been established by the investigation.
Bhalla's body was handed over to his family after the post-mortem examination for the final rites. Several BJP MLAs attended the last rites, while a heavy police presence has been maintained across Bolpur to prevent any law-and-order situation. UNI DC NST CDS
Tags: #Bengal CM deploys STF# CID after BJP Booth President Chandan Bhalla shot dead in Bolpur
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