The body of a trader from BB Ganguly Street, who had been missing since he left home on Monday for a business deal in Digha, was found stuffed inside a trolley bag on a local train at Mecheda station in East Midnapore.

Panskura GRP have started a murder case against unknown persons.

Hassan Ali, 45, had attended a marriage ceremony at Panskura in East Midnapore last week before returning home to BB Ganguly Street on Sunday, his relatives said.

“It could be a murder for gain. His relatives are claiming that he was carrying a large amount of cash for a business deal. If he was murdered for money, then someone probably knew that he was carrying a large amount,” said an investigator.

Ali’s wife, Sarika Khatoon, said he had called her on Monday morning saying he was going to Digha on business.

He had married twice, sources said.

Another friend-cum-employee, Sheikh Shahjahan Ali, said he last received a call from Ali around 8am on Monday when Ali told him he was going to New Digha and would meet him in Panskura after 9pm. “But when I called him around 10am, someone else took the call and said Ali was busy. After 11am, I tried to contact him again but the phone was switched off,” Shahjahan said.

When Ali’s family failed to contact him all day, they lodged a missing diary at Bowbazar police station.

GRP personnel at Panskura station found the unclaimed suitcase inside a train on Wednesday night. The body was identified as Ali’s by his elder son from his first marriage early on Thursday.

His younger son from the second marriage is writing his ICSE exams, which began on Thursday, this year. He was told about his father’s death after he returned home from the exam centre.