After ‘break-up’, youth shoots at girlfriend, kills self in guest house
Times of India | 4 July 2024
Kolkata: A young man, Rakesh Kumar (27), allegedly shot his girlfriend, Nikku Kumari Dubey (23), inside a guest house in Lake Gardens and turned the gun on himself on Wednesday evening, less than three hours after they had checked in. The girl escaped with a gunshot wound in her abdomen as she managed to run out of the room. She has been admitted to a private hospital in Jodhpur Park, where her condition is stated to be critical but stable.
The incident took place at New Metro Guest House near Lake Gardens flyover where the two youngsters, residents of Budge Budge, had checked in at 2 pm.Police said the two had been together for almost seven years and the girl wanted to end the relationship. Police suspect Rakesh tried to convince Nikku, but when she refused, he shot at her and then, killed himself.
“We have called the families, who, too, were aware of their relationship. But they did not know about the break-up,” said an officer. “We have seized two empty shells from the room and a 9mm pistol. The youth did not have any crime record. We are checking from where he had procured the gun.”
Rakesh’s brother, who is on his way to Kolkata, said the two families were from Bihar and that his brother was a civic volunteer.
The two had submitted their Aadhaar cards and booked room no. 301 on the third floor of the guest house. The caretaker heard the gunshot around 4.50 pm and rushed upstairs to find the girl walking down the stairs, clutching her bleeding abdomen. “The girl said Rakesh had fired at her while she was about to leave after an altercation. She had a bullet wound in her abdomen and collapsed while speaking. As we were about to call police and ring for an ambulance, we heard another gunshot from the room,” said a guest house employee.
A team from the Lake police station reached the guest house and opened the door to find Rakesh’s blood-spattered body lying motionless on the floor. He had the gun in his right hand, said police.
Nikku has been admitted to EEDF Hospital. “The bullet is lodged in her abdomen but it did not hit any vital organ. She has been kept under observation and is undergoing tests. We plan to operate on her on Thursday morning to remove the bullet. As of now, her condition is stable but critical,” said a hospital official.
Police said they were verifying the guest house employees’ claim that the two had checked into the facility even last Sunday. Located next to Lake Gardens super market, the four-storey guest house has been in operation for 15 years. “It is scary that someone could enter the guest house with a gun and shoot. What if the firing had taken place outside the hotel? Several people could have been harmed,” said Gopal Das, a resident.