AGARTALA, July 1 (TIWN): Finally CBI investigation in both Journalists murder cases turning wheel around after CPI-M Govt’s failure to hand over cases to CBI. After Biplab Deb Govt’s bold step in handing over investigation to CBI, as per PIT report, CBI has booked three Indigenous People's Front of Tripura (IPFT) leaders, along with over 450 others in Tripura, after taking over the probes into the killings of two journalists in the state last year. CBI has booked top IPFT leaders Balram Deb Barma, Dhirendra Deb Barma and Amit Deb Barma, the president of the Mandwi divisional committee of the party, along with many of its unidentified members, in connection with the Santanu Bhowmik murder, PTI reported. IPFT's brutal attack has killed Tripura young journalist Santanu Bhowmik on Wednesday, Sept 20,2017. Resident of Jirania, the young journalist was associated with various electronic media who has been killed brutally while covering IPFT and CPI-M clash at Mandai.

The barbaric murder has taken place on Wednesday, Sept 20 afternoon when after getting informed about an ongoing tension on that hilly zone, Santanu rushed to Mandai to cover the incident.

But, while covering the event suddenly an attack was held upon him by IPFT with sharp weapons (Da) and continuously the attackers were injuring him. On that day Sept 20,2017 CPI-M had claimed the murderers were none other than but IPFT activists. 

Another journalist, Sudip Dutta Bhowmik, a crime reporter with Synadan newspaper, was killed inside the headquarters of the Tripura State Rifles' (TSR) 2nd battalion at RK Nagar in on November 20, 2017.

Sudip Dutta Bhowmik's murder case trial in the additional district and sessions judge's court was stopped following orders from the Tripura High Court. The state police's Special Investigation Team (SIT) had probed the killing and filed a chargesheet. It had also investigated the killing of Santanu Bhowmik but is yet to file a chargesheet.

Santanu's father Sadhan Bhowmik, who was not happy with the police probe, had approached the high court seeking a CBI investigation, which was opposed by the then CPI-M-led Left Front government in the state.

Biplab Deb led BJP government had informed the court in May that it had referred the matter to the CBI.

Santanu Bhaumik was 26 years old, born on 12 January, 1989, studied at Birendra Nagar High School, VM University.

A source said, Santanu was stretched from the market area and taken to the jungle and with sharp weapon he was killed by IPFT goons. 

Apart from PTI various National media as Hindustan Times, Business Standard, Indian Express, The Telegraph of India, ANI etc.