Prashanta Barman, the suspended Block Development Officer (BDO) of Rajganj in Jalpaiguri district, was arrested late Monday night by police from Eco Park Police Station under the Bidhannagar Police Commissionerate. The arrest follows allegations of drunk driving, causing a road accident, and engaging in unruly conduct in Newtown.
According to police and local sources, the incident occurred near the Sarchi signal area, where Barman, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, rammed his vehicle into a motorcycle. The impact caused the motorcyclist to fall onto the road and sustain injuries.
Eyewitnesses reported that when locals gathered to protest, Barman exited his vehicle and began behaving aggressively, hurling abuses and issuing threats. A video of the incident, which has since circulated widely on social media, shows Barman seated behind the wheel of a black Mahindra Thar vehicle with visible front-end damage. Upon noticing he was being recorded, he reportedly attempted to stop the filming and later covered his face with a mask.
The footage also captures the injured victim, whose leg appeared swollen and lacerated. The injured youth was reportedly knocked off his feet and landed near another motorcycle. Despite the visuals, Barman can be heard denying that he intentionally hit the victim.
Police personnel arrived at the scene shortly thereafter and intervened to control the situation as tensions escalated.
Barman’s arrest gains further significance due to his alleged involvement in a prior criminal case. He has been named the prime accused in the abduction and murder of Swapan Kamilya, a gold merchant from Dattabad in Salt Lake. Kamilya’s body was recovered on October 29 last year from a canal bank in Yatragachi, under the jurisdiction of Newtown Police Station.
Following the recovery, the victim’s family accused Barman of orchestrating the crime. He was subsequently removed from his post as BDO. Though he initially secured anticipatory bail from courts in Barasat and Bidhannagar, the order was later quashed by the High Court, which directed him to surrender by December 22. His failure to comply led to the issuance of an arrest warrant by the Bidhannagar court.
Barman later approached the Supreme Court, where a bench comprising Justices Rajesh Bindal and Vijay Bishnoi granted him time until January 23 to surrender. However, he again failed to appear, prompting authorities to declare him a fugitive.
While evading arrest, Barman maintained that he was being falsely implicated and that the allegations against him were baseless.
Police are continuing their investigation into both the recent incident and the earlier murder case.
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