A man identified as Kamal Panchayat (55), the principal accused in a murder case involving the killing of an elderly woman in Pirojpur’s Jiyanagar upazila, has been arrested by Rapid Action Battalion-8 (RAB-8).
According to official information, the arrest was made on Sunday (14 June) at around 8:00 pm during a raid conducted at the house of Jamal Kazi in the Chhoto Kanua area under Ward No. 8 of Bhandaria municipality in the district. Following confirmation of his whereabouts, the RAB-8 team carried out the operation and detained him.
Kamal Panchayat is a resident of South Chandipur village in Jiyanagar upazila and the son of the late Abu Panchayat. Law enforcement officials stated that he had been evading arrest for some time and had been moving between different locations to avoid capture.
After his detention, RAB officials handed Kamal Panchayat over to Jiyanagar Police Station. The officer-in-charge of the station, Md. Mohabbat Khan, confirmed that RAB-8 arrested the main accused from Bhandaria around 9:00 pm and subsequently transferred him to police custody. He added that questioning is ongoing and legal procedures are being pursued.
The case relates to an incident that occurred on 28 May in South Kalaron village under Chandipur Union of Jiyanagar upazila. The victim, Namita Rani Pal, an elderly woman and wife of Radheshyam Chandra Pal, was allegedly killed by strangulation. The accused include her daughter-in-law, Banya Rani Pal (32), and her alleged partner Kamal Panchayat.
The following day, on 29 May, the victim’s husband, Radheshyam Chandra Pal, filed a murder case at Indurkani Police Station in Jiyanagar, naming five individuals as accused. Following the complaint, police arrested Banya Rani and her maternal uncle, Tapas Debnath (44).
Law enforcement sources indicated that Kamal Panchayat had been under surveillance for an extended period. He reportedly went into hiding across multiple locations in an attempt to evade arrest.
Local residents and family members alleged that Banya Rani and Kamal Panchayat had maintained a long-standing extramarital relationship, which was opposed by the victim. It is further alleged that the victim was killed after she reportedly discovered the two in an intimate situation, leading to a premeditated attack. These claims form part of the ongoing investigation, and have not been independently established beyond the case allegations.
Key Timeline of Events
| Date | Event |
|---|---|
| 28 May | Namita Rani Pal allegedly murdered by strangulation in South Kalaron village, Jiyanagar |
| 29 May | Victim’s husband files murder case naming five accused at Indurkani Police Station |
| 29 May (subsequent action) | Police arrest Banya Rani Pal and Tapas Debnath |
| 14 June | RAB-8 arrests principal accused Kamal Panchayat in Bhandaria municipality |
| 14 June (night) | Accused handed over to Jiyanagar Police Station; interrogation begins |
Authorities have stated that further investigation is underway, and legal proceedings in the case are continuing.
