Kolkata, 04 August (H.S.) : Kalebar Singh (58), an alleged contract killer accused in the murder of Congress councillor Tapan Kandu, died while undergoing treatment at Purulia Government Medical College and Hospital after a prolonged illness, police sources said on Tuesday.

An inquest into the death was conducted in the presence of a magistrate on Tuesday. The post-mortem examination is scheduled for Wednesday, after which the body will be handed over to his family.

Singh had been lodged at the Purulia District Correctional Home since his arrest in connection with the high-profile murder case. However, he had reportedly been suffering from multiple health complications for a long time and had remained admitted to the government medical college hospital for nearly four months before his death.

His wife, Pratima Devi, said Singh had undergone treatment at several hospitals over the past few years. My husband had been seriously ill for a long time. We repeatedly sought bail on medical grounds, but it was not granted. I do not know whether he committed the murder or not, and I have no complaint against anyone, she said.

The case dates back to March 13, 2022, when Tapan Kandu, the Congress councillor from Ward No. 2 of Jhalda Municipality in Purulia district, was shot dead by unidentified assailants while on a morning walk with friends. The murder sparked widespread political controversy across West Bengal.

The investigation was initially conducted by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) constituted by the West Bengal government. Later, following an order of the Calcutta High Court, the probe was transferred to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Singh, a resident of Gaichad village under Jaridih Police Station in Jharkhand's Bokaro district, was arrested during the SIT investigation. In June 2022, the CBI filed a charge sheet naming Deepak Kandu, Kalebar Singh, Naren Kandu, Mohammad Ashik, and Satyaban Pramanik as accused in the case.

With Singh's death, he becomes the second accused to die during the course of the trial. Earlier, co-accused Satyaban Pramanik died due to illness on November 12, 2023.

Meanwhile, two other accused, Naren Kandu and Deepak Kandu, are currently out on bail following orders from the Calcutta High Court. The trial in the case is continuing before the competent court.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh