Kolkata: Police on Thursday said they had arrested Kingshuk Mukherjee, identified as the main culprit in the case of luring minor students to donate blood.
He was arrested in Odisha.
Earlier this month, some minor students of a private school in Ispat Nagari were taken to a private hospital in Bidhannagar of Durgapur in West Burdwan district, where their blood was taken. After the matter came to light, a written complaint was filed with Durgapur police station. Based on that complaint, police began an investigation.
Investigators said the name of Debapriya Chakraborty, a former student of the school, first emerged. It is alleged that Debapriya took minor students to the hospital by offering financial inducements. During interrogation, he claimed he was recruited for this work through others.
The investigation then brought to light the name of Trinamool Chhatra Parishad (TMCP) member Amit Prasad Yadav. The connection of Mohammad Habibullah, a resident of Malda who worked in a hotel in Bidhannagar, also surfaced. However, the probe turned when the name of Kingshuk Mukherjee was revealed.
Police sources claimed Kingshuk played a key role in the scheme. Investigators are probing how minors were persuaded to donate blood by offering money, who took them to the hospital and whether a larger gang was involved.
On August 6, Durgapur police arrested Debapriya Chakraborty, Mohammad Habibullah and Amit Prasad Yadav in a raid. Police said further interrogation revealed the name and role of Kingshuk Mukherjee.
Although Kingshuk’s home is in Bidhannagar, Durgapur, he had been hiding in Odisha since the incident. After receiving information, police arrested him in a raid.
Durgapur Purba Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MLA Chandra Sekhar Banerjee said police were investigating without prejudice and those involved in the serious crime would be punished.
(IANS)
