West Bengal: Two policemen injured as undertrial prisoners escape after firing
Times of India | 16 January 2025
NEW DELHI: Two policemen were injured in a shooting by miscreants while escorting an accused to a prison van in West Bengal’s Uttar Dinajpur district, officials said.
The incident occurred in the Panjipara Kalibari area under Goalpokhar police station on Wednesday evening.
The injured officers, Nilkanta Sarkar and Deven Baishya, sustained bullet injuries.Saif Ali Khan Health Update'Request fans to be patient': Saif Ali Khan issues statement on stabbing incident'Two wounds deep, one close to spine': What we know about Saif Ali Khan stabbing incident'Stabbed 6 times': Saif Ali Khan attacked by intruder at his home, undergoes surgerySarkar was shot in the chest, while Baishya was hit twice.
According to police, the shooting happened as the accused was being taken from the Islampur sub-divisional court to Raiganj correctional home. The accused had asked for a stop to use the bathroom and opened fire after stepping out. He then fled the scene.
Both injured officers were taken to the Islampur sub-district hospital and later referred to a private hospital in Siliguri as their condition worsened.
BJP West Bengal chief Sukanta Majumdar criticized the state government, saying, "Shocking breakdown of law and order in Islampur: miscreants opened fire on a police vehicle to free their accomplices, critically injuring several officers. Under the state Home Minister's watch, criminals have grown so emboldened that even the police aren't safe. This is not governance; it's chaos. West Bengal deserves better," he posted on X.
Inspector General of Police (IG) North Bengal, Rajesh Kumar Yadav, visited the hospital and assured that the officers were in stable condition. He also revealed that the accused had hidden the weapon inside a blanket. Police have started an investigation into the incident.