Birbhum killings; CBI makes first arrests, four suspects nabbed in Mumbai

Rampurhat: An officer of the CBI said on Thursday that sleuths from the agency had arrested four West Bengal residents in Mumbai for participating in the Birbhum killings.

In accordance with the Calcutta High Court's order, the CBI made these first arrests since it assumed responsibility for investigating the March 21 killings in Bogtui village.

Soon after the killings, the four accused fled from Bogtui to Maharashtra, where they were captured early Thursday morning from their hideout.

"Of the four arrested accused, two persons -- identified as Bappa and Shabu Sheikh -- were named in the FIR lodged in connection with the killings. We will produce them before a court in Mumbai and plea for a transit remand to West Bengal," he said.

Following the slaying of local TMC leader Bhadu Sheikh, assailants firebombed several houses in the village, causing eight people to be burned alive and one person to succumb to injuries.

The case was initially being investigated by the state government's Special Investigation Team.