Kolkata: A 35-year-old man was injured by an airgun pellet on Sunday night at the crossing of Banamali Ghosal Lane and James Long Sarani in Behala, police said. Cops have detained a minor and his father too is being questioned.
The victim, Abhishek Roy, is a resident of SN Roy Road under New Alipore Police Station area. Police said Roy sustained a pellet injury in his stomach around 10.15 pm while he was sipping tea at a roadside shop. Initially, it was unclear who fired the shot, but later it was discovered that a minor fired from the roof of a nearby 3-storey building.
According to DC (southwest-Behala) Rahul De, Roy told investigators he believes that someone fired an airgun from an opposite building located at 19, Banamali Ghosal Lane. After the incident, Roy was initially taken to Vidyasagar Hospital for treatment and was later admitted to SSKM Hospital, police said.
"On Monday, Roy underwent surgery to remove the pellet from his stomach," said Asim Dutta, a local. During the enquiry, police visited the suspected flat in the building identified by Roy, from where the firing took place. Officers went to the third floor of the flat and seized an airgun, the suspected weapon used in the shooting.
The 17-year-old teenager was identified as the minor in conflict with law, police said. The reason for the shooting and the motive is unclear. Investigators are examining the circumstances under which the airgun was fired, including the line of sight from the flat to the crossing and whether the shooting was intentional or accidental.
Police said they were recording statements from the injured man and witnesses from the area. Roy's family stated that he had no acquaintance or enmity with the minor.