A man was injured in a firing incident in front of Trinamool Congress (TMC) Manikchak MLA Sabitri Mitra’s residence in English Bazar of the Malda district on Sunday, police said.
Two rounds of gunfire were shot in the Sadarghat Puratuli area of Ward No. 13, in English Bazar Municipality, on Saturday night, police said, adding that they have detained four persons in connection with the incident.
Police quickly responded to the incident and deployed extra forces in the area.
A man identified as Biplob Ghosh sustained injuries on his left hand, said police. According to Ghosh, he was trying to de-escalate a situation among a group of young men when he was shot at. “When I asked what has happened, a man named Uttam Mondal pulled out a gun from his pocket and fired two rounds. I was hit in the left hand,” ,” Ghosh told mediapersons.
A search operation is currently underway for Mondal, said police.
The residents of the area, meanwhile, expressed concerns over the increasing presence of “outsiders” at night, alleging inaction by the police administration.
Expressing concern over the “proliferation” of firearms in the district, MLA Mitra told mediapersons, “One after another such incidents are being reported in Malda, today it was near my home, a few days back one murder took place close to my place. How are people getting such improvised firearms? How are they managing to buy arms so easily? If such things continue, it will not be good for the district. Such incidents should be prevented proactively.”
“It is an unfortunate and disturbing incident. Who is behind such an incident is being investigated. In a planned way efforts are being taken to disturb the peace in the area. On CM Mamata Banerjee’s instruction, the police are making all efforts to ensure improved law and order in the area,” said TMC state general secretary Kunal Ghosh while addressing the concerns.
On Friday, TMC panchayat secretary Kamal Mondal was hacked to death in the Bhutni Police Station area. In January, TMC councillor of English Bazar Municipality, Dulal Sarkar was shot dead in broad daylight in Malda. In February, Mitra’s vehicle was reportedly attacked by an opposing vehicle attempting to collide with her car near Dharampur in Manikchak.