A Trinamool Congress-backed labour union leader was shot at by unidentified assailants in Belgharia in the northern suburbs of Kolkata late Saturday evening, said the police. The incident led to injury to another man having tea with his wife from a roadside stall when the assailants fired at the labour union leader, identified as Bikash Singh.
The incident took place in Belgharia’s Uttar Basudebpur when Singh was returning home from a party meeting. While Singh is critical and under treatment at R G Kar Hospital, the other injured man, Shantu Das, has been admitted to Sagore Dutta Medical College and Hospital.
According to sources, around six attackers came on two motorbikes and stopped in front of a tea stall before opening fire. Bikash sustained an injury to his chest, while Shantu was injured in the waist. The assailants fled the scene shortly after the shooting.
On hearing gunshots, locals scattered in panic and ran for cover. Later, they found the two men lying in a pool of blood and took them to hospital. A large police contingent from Barrackpore Commissionerate led by senior officers reached the spot and cordoned off the area. Some locals launched an agitation demanding arrest of the culprits. A senior officer said they were checking CCTV footage to identify the culprits.
“The assailants targeted Bikash Singh. The number involved and their motive remain unclear and are currently under investigation,” said Anupam Singh, Deputy Commissioner of South Barrackpore Police Commissionerate, who reached the spot at night, spoke to eyewitnesses and recorded their statements. The Belgharia police are investigating whether there is a political motive or a personal enmity behind the incident.
Eyewitnesses reported that the assailants escaped towards Agarpara via Usumpur Battala. Each of the assailants had their faces covered with helmets, according to the police.
“It is learnt that in the evening, Bikash left home and went to the Texmaco factory in Belgharia. He is the general secretary of the Trinamool workers’ organisation there. He went to a local tea shop during his break from work. On the other hand, Das, a resident of Agarpara, had come to Uttar Basudebpur in Belgharia with his wife to see a doctor. After seeing a doctor, the couple was standing at the tea shop and drinking tea. It was 8.45 pm when the incident took place,” said a police officer.
Riya Karmakar Das, wife of Das, said, “I had come to see the doctor. I was standing and drinking tea. Suddenly, three people came and started firing. They came on a motorbike. I don’t know anyone. A man was running next to us. At that moment, my husband was shot in the waist.”