Kolkata: A gang of four bike-borne snatchers allegedly opened fire and fled with a woman’s bag in front of a bank at a congested area of Mahamayatala near Garia on Friday afternoon. The shooting in the crowded area triggered panic among the locals.
While one of the snatchers, Suraj Seikh, a resident of Budge Budge, has been arrested, cops have launched a search for the rest.Cops have recovered a firearm and cartridge shell from him.
According to police, the woman, Shyamali Chakraborty, a resident of Gobindanagar under Sonarpur Rajpur Municipality, was walking to the bank when the gang, riding two bikes, attacked her and snatched the bag. The bag had a mobile phone, Rs 700 cash and some documents. Cops said the accused had mistakenly thought that the woman was returning from the bank. “From witnesses, we have come to know that the accused fired three rounds,” said an officer.
“When the snatchers pulled at my bag, I resisted and raised an alarm. But they kicked me and scared me with a gun before fleeing with the bag. A pedestrian rushed to my rescue when they opened fire to scare him,” Chakraborty said.
A witness, who was also headed to the bank, said: “I don’t know who the attackers were but the shooting in a crowded place like Mahamayatala in the afternoon is scary.”
Nazrul Seikh, the chairman in council of Rajpur Sonarpur Municipality, said: “The firing took place when many people were around. I have heard that the accused had come from Budge Budge. None was hurt when they opened fire but the shooting could have led to fatalities. We want the police to trace and nab all of them.”
Baruipur SP Palash Chandra Dhali said: “The four snatchers were on two bikes when they attacked the woman and fled with her bag. Cops have arrested one of the accused while a search is on for the rest. We are using both source information and technical leads besides questioning the accused to nab them.”