A strange incident happened in Burrabazar, a very busy market in Kolkata. It involved a gold-jewellery shop owner named Jayanta Chowdhury. On May 31, 2025, Jayanta received a letter at his shop. The letter was no normal letter. It contained a very serious demand. The sender asked Jayanta to pay ₹50 lakh. The letter said this money was meant for funding a Maoist group. Maoists are a banned group that often threatens people for money. Jayanta was very shocked and scared. He had never received such a threat before. He immediately decided to take this matter to the police.
The letter was written in Bengali, but some words were printed in bold letters. One phrase that stood out was “ponchash lokkho taka,” which means fifty lakh rupees. The letter warned Jayanta not to inform the police. It said the police would not be able to help him. It also said something bad would happen if he did not pay. The tone of the letter was very threatening. It was clearly designed to scare Jayanta and force him to pay the money quickly. Receiving such a letter can make anyone feel helpless and worried.
The letter was signed by someone claiming to be “Samir Mondal.” The sender also mentioned another person named “Gopikanta Banerjee,” also known as Mukul. The letter instructed Jayanta to deliver the money to this person in Hadipur Colony, Deganga, North 24 Parganas. The police found that the letter had been postmarked in Barasat. It had been mailed from there. The postmark date showed that the letter was sent around May 24, 2025. Jayanta received it on May 31. These details were very important for the police investigation. They started tracing the letter immediately.
Jayanta did not waste any time. After receiving the letter, he went straight to Burrabazar Police Station. He filed a formal complaint and handed over the letter to the police. He told them everything he knew. He said he felt threatened and feared for his life and business. He also mentioned the names given in the letter. The police accepted the complaint and assured Jayanta they would investigate seriously. They promised to provide protection to him. Other shop owners in the market also became very worried after hearing about this incident.
The police started investigating the case right away. They wanted to know if this letter was really sent by Maoists or if it was the work of some local criminals. They suspected that it could be fake and that someone might be using the Maoist name to scare Jayanta. The police also started looking into local business rivalries. Sometimes business competitors use threats to harm others. The police contacted officers in Deganga to verify the identity of Gopikanta Banerjee. They wanted to know if he was real or if it was a fake name.
To find out more, the police sent the letter to a forensic lab. They wanted to check the typing, paper, and any fingerprints. They also wanted to know if the letter was typed on a common computer or a special machine. The postmark from Barasat was very important. The police started tracing the postal route. They checked CCTV footage at the Barasat post office to see who had mailed the letter. These steps were necessary to gather evidence and catch the person behind this threat. The police were working carefully and methodically.
Burrabazar is a very old and crowded market in Kolkata. It has many shops and traders. In the past, there have been cases of musclemen and criminals trying to control businesses here. Traders sometimes faced threats and were forced to pay money. However, this was the first time in ten years that someone used a Maoist threat in this market. This case shocked the business community. Traders became very alert. Many of them started checking their mail carefully. They also started asking for more police presence and better security in the market area.
In rural areas like Jangalmahal, Maoist extortion is more common. In districts like Midnapore and Purulia, Maoists often threaten local officials and businessmen. They demand money to fund their operations. But such threats are rare in big cities like Kolkata. That is why this case is very special. The police want to find out if real Maoists sent this letter or if local criminals were pretending to be Maoists. Either way, this incident has made the authorities very concerned. They are taking this case very seriously to prevent future problems.
The police also started talking to local people. They asked shop owners and neighbours if they had seen anyone suspicious. They checked CCTV cameras near Jayanta’s shop to see if anyone had dropped the letter or visited his shop recently. The police also looked for handwriting samples. They asked post office staff to help them identify the person who mailed the letter. All these steps take time, but they are very important. The police are following every lead carefully. They want to catch the person responsible for this crime.
The police also contacted special intelligence units. These units have records of known Maoist members. They checked if there was any real Maoist named Samir Mondal. They also checked the background of the name Gopikanta Banerjee. If these names match known criminals, then the threat is very real. If not, then the police will focus more on local suspects. They will look into any business rivalries or personal grudges. The police are keeping all options open. They are determined to solve this case and ensure the safety of traders in Burrabazar.
The local business community is very worried. Many shop owners are now taking extra precautions. They are installing CCTV cameras in their shops. They are also hiring private security guards. Some traders are closing their shops early in the evening. Trade associations are holding meetings to discuss the issue. They are advising members to be alert and report any suspicious activity. They are also urging traders not to give in to such threats. The entire market is standing together to support Jayanta and fight against criminal activities in their area.
The police are working closely with postal officials. They asked for access to post office records and CCTV footage. They want to know who brought the letter to the Barasat post office. Postal workers are also being questioned. The police believe that tracking the mailing route will provide important clues. If they can identify the person who posted the letter, they will be one step closer to solving the case. The investigation is moving forward. The police are confident that they will catch the culprit soon and bring them to justice.
This case also raises concerns about mail safety. Many traders in Kolkata receive letters and parcels daily. They worry about the possibility of receiving similar threats. The police are advising people to handle suspicious mail carefully. They should report any such mail to the police immediately. The authorities are also planning to start awareness campaigns. They will teach traders how to identify suspicious letters and what steps to take. Improving mail safety is now a priority. The Chowdhury case has shown that even trusted systems like the postal service can be misused.
If the police find that the letter was not sent by real Maoists, they will focus on local suspects. They will investigate if any business rivals had a reason to harm Jayanta. They will also check if anyone in the area has a history of sending threatening letters. The police may question several people and conduct searches. They are determined to find the person responsible. Jayanta hopes that justice will be served soon. He also hopes that this case will set an example and stop others from using similar threats.
Jayanta has shown great courage. Despite the threat, he continues to run his business. He trusts the police and believes they will protect him. He also encourages other traders to stay strong and not give in to fear. The business community supports him fully. They admire his bravery. They are working together to ensure that Burrabazar remains a safe place to do business. They know that standing united is the best way to fight crime. Jayanta hopes that very soon, life will return to normal and the market will be free from fear.
This case is very important for Kolkata. It shows that even big cities are not free from such threats. It highlights the need for strong policing and public awareness. The authorities must take all steps to prevent such incidents in the future. The Chowdhury case may lead to new rules and better security for traders. It may also encourage other victims to come forward and report crimes. The people of Kolkata hope that this case will be solved soon. They believe that with courage and unity, they can overcome any threat.
The investigation is still going on. The police are following every lead and checking all possibilities. They are working closely with intelligence units and postal authorities. They are determined to catch the person behind this crime. The traders of Burrabazar are staying alert and supporting each other. They hope that the police will succeed. They believe that justice will be served. This case has reminded everyone that vigilance is very important. The people of Kolkata stand united. They will not allow fear to control their lives or their businesses.