Businessman shot at in market-place in Usti

Police said the victim, Abdur Rahim Mondal, who owns a chicken shop in Usti market, was admitted to a private hospital in Kolkata, where he was fighting for his life.

On Sunday morning, Mondal was busy in his shop, when a miscreant approached on a motorbike and opened fire at him. He received bullet injuries on his shoulder. The accused immediately fled the area. Other traders in the market tried to chase the culprit, but couldn’t catch him.

The incident led to panic in the busy market area and people were found running around in search of safe shelter. Local people took Mondal to a nearby health care centre. 

He was later shifted to the city hospital. Preliminary investigation revealed that the businessman had a quarrel with a notorious criminal from the area, Jamir Mollah, after the former had protested against the latter’s claim for extortion money. Mondal had also raised his voice against Mollah for encroaching upon many plots in that area forcefully.

Despite being asked not to get indulge into the business of Mollah, Mondal continued to raise his voice whenever he found the accused threatening someone or demanding extortion money.

On Sunday morning, some local people had asked both of them to sit together with some senior people from the locality and settle their dispute. But Mondal was attacked allegedly by Mollah before the meeting.

It may be mentioned that a businessman had a close shave on Saturday morning when some unidentified miscreants opened fired at him near Noapara in North 24 Parganas.