Kolkata: A 78-year-old man reportedly fired a shot into the air following a heated argument with a local auto operator over parking on Hare Krishna Sett Lane near Sinthee around 10.30 pm on Tuesday. The gun was licensed and the accused claimed he was worried after a recent robbery in the area and wanted to only fire a warning shot after the auto driver became aggressive and threatened to physically assault him.
The senior citizen, Umesh Samanta, reportedly engaged in a verbal altercation with Soumen Adhikary over the latter parking his vehicle in front of Samanta's house.
The sound of gunfire caused panic among locals and many rushed out of homes.
Cops detained Samanta and confiscated his firearm. A formal complaint was lodged, and Samanta is being questioned.
Initial probe suggests the shot was fired as an act of intimidation, but cops are exploring all angles to ensure a comprehensive understanding of the incident. "The senior citizen got engaged in an altercation and fired a round in the air from his licensed pistol," said DC (North) Dipak Sarkar.