A car mechanic was stabbed to death during an argument at a drinking session near the 17A/17B bus stand in Kolkata’s Chetla area on Saturday, the police said. Bleeding heavily, the victim, Ashok Paswan, managed to run nearly 100 m down the road before collapsing.

The incident occurred around 11.30 pm within Mayor Firhad Hakim’s ward. Paswan was drinking with a group of friends when an intense dispute broke out. The confrontation escalated when one of the men allegedly thrust a rod into Paswan’s throat suddenly.

Paswan ran towards his sister’s house nearby. Local residents rushed him to hospital, where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival.

The Chetla police have detained three people and are interrogating them in connection with the murder. “We are working to determine the precise trigger for the argument ..The motive isn’t clear yet,” said a police official.

The police are also questioning local witnesses to piece together the events of the fatal brawl.
The high-profile location of the murder—a spot frequently visited by Mayor Hakim and his daughter for various events—has triggered complaints from the local populace, who allege that the bus stand area has become a hub for late-night alcohol parties and anti-social activities, which continue unchecked into the early hours.

“Such violent incidents have occurred previously, and repeated complaints to the authorities have gone unaddressed. Police are also humans like us and are under pressure,” a woman told news TV channels.