CBI arrests proclaimed offender in 2021 post-poll violence case in Bengal's Cooch Behar
Politics 18 Jun, 2026

CBI arrests proclaimed offender in 2021 post-poll violence case in Bengal's Cooch Behar

Business To Business, Kolkata, 18th June, 2026:  The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday arrested a proclaimed offender in connection with a 2021 post-poll violence case involving the murder of a BJP worker in Cooch Behar district.
According to the agency, the accused, Shyamal Barman, was arrested from Siliguri in north Bengal.
The case relates to the killing of BJP worker Manik Maitra in the Sitalkuchi area of Cooch Behar during the period of post-election violence that followed the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections.
The agency stated that:

  • Barman had been absconding since the registration of the FIR.
  • He allegedly did not join the investigation at any stage.
  • He also did not participate in the trial proceedings.
  • He had been declared a proclaimed offender by the court.
The CBI further said it had announced a cash reward of ₹50,000 for information leading to his arrest.
The case is one of several investigations into incidents of violence reported in West Bengal after the 2021 Assembly election results. The CBI has been probing a number of such cases following judicial directions and has filed chargesheets in several matters related to alleged murder, assault, and other offences.
Following his arrest, the accused is expected to be produced before the appropriate court. Investigators may seek custodial interrogation or further legal proceedings as part of the ongoing trial process.
As with all criminal cases, the allegations against the accused will ultimately be examined by the court, and guilt or innocence will be determined through judicial proceedings based on the evidence presented.

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