Relative of victims held for death of 3 family members in Bolpur fire

Days after three members of a family died in a fire that burnt their house in Bolpur, police on Sunday said they have arrested a relative of the victims for conspiracy.

According to police, Smriti Bibi, a relative of the victim family , was allegedly in a relationship with one Chandan Islam and conpired to kill Sheikh Tuta and his family. “During interrogation, Smriti Bibi has confessed to the conspiracy. She was produced in the Bolpur sub-divisional court on Sunday and has been remanded to police custody for seven days,” a police officer said, adding they are questioning Chandan.

The incident took place on the night of July 5 when the house of Sheikh Tuta in Raipur Supur gram panchayat caught fire. Tuta was sleeping with his wife Rupa Bibi and their four-year-old son inside the house .

While Rupa and the child died in the fire, Tuta died later while undergoing treatment at a hospital in Bardhaman on Saturday. “The window of that room was open. Allegedly, someone threw kerosene from outside, setting the house on fire and killing the three,” said an official. A forensic team was also sent to the spot.