Dreaded criminal shot dead by members of rival gang

A coal mafia member was shot to death while he was returning back home on Tuesday morning. His friend was also shot, but was admitted in a hospital and is battling for his life. Police said Shekh Amin, a dreaded criminal, who had been out on bail for the last three months, was shot at Kailashpur village of Durgapur.

He succumbed to his injuries. His friend, who was also beside Amin received bullets injuries, but local people managed to rush him to a hospital.

Amin could not be sent to the hospital as he died on the spot. The assailants, four in number, shot him from point blank range. Police said, Amin was in the custody for a long time, as he was one of the prime accused of a murder of another coal mafia member – Shekh Salim.

“We suspect the brothers of Shekh Salim took the revenge here. Amin was returning with his friend. The assailants were waiting for him. When they saw him coming, they shot him there and escaped from the spot,” said a police officer.

However, the family of the Amin alleged that some local mafia, who were the business rivals had masterminded the murder. “We have some names – Shahjahan, Janeul, Jahangir – the local coal mafia members who could have been involved in this conspiracy. The brothers of Shekh Selim could have given them the assignment to kill Amin,” the officer said.

However, tension sparked in the area as the local shops were closed soon after the incident. The area, which usually looks very crowded, was vacant as the local residents had escaped to their own houses to have safe shelters.

“It was really a terrible experience. I saw the two men were staggering, as they were shot. The assailant also blank fired twice and asked the locals to escape from the spot. Later we saw the blood smeared body of two men. One was dead and other was rushed to the hospital,” said a local resident.