Four held for fish trader's murder on Bankim Setu

Kolkata: Four notorious criminals have been arrested by Howrah City Police in connection with the fish trader who was shot dead on Bankim Setu in the wee hours of Friday. Cops have also recovered large number of firearms from accused persons.

According to police, following the murder on Friday, officers checked the footage of a CCTV camera installed near the murder spot. In the footage, it was found a few persons shot the fish trader identified as Tarak Bhuniya dead and fled the spot. After initiating a probe, cops came to know that a notorious criminal identified as Golab Khan of Malipanchghora was near the spot during the incident. On Friday afternoon police came to from sources that Khan was seen in and around Ghusuri area in Howrah. When a team of sleuths rushed to nab him, Khan allegedly fired two rounds aiming the police team and managed to give a slip to the police. Later, on Saturday night, cops raided a place at Bagnan in Howrah and a place in Burdwan and nabbed four criminals, including Khan. The other three accused persons are identified as Jitender Mahato alias Dendrite alias Karan of Nischinda, Gajanan Kumar Mallick of Belur and Dipak Das alias Dipka of Golabari.

Cops have also found one 7 mm semi-automatic pistol, two single shoter firearm, 20 rounds of live ammunition of 7mm and 40 rounds of live ammunition of 8mm and one sharp weapon from their possession. It is suspected that they might also have connection with illegal arms dealers. Police claimed that the accused persons are habitual offenders. Several criminal cases like, murder, arms dealing, extortion and snatching are pending in different police stations in Howrah against them.

Bhuniya was going to the Howrah fish market on Friday to buy fish on his bicycle, around 4 am. When he was crossing the Bankim Setu over Howrah railway station, accused persons had surrounded him and tried to snatch away the bag containing money.

When Bhuniya tried to resist, the miscreants fired multiple bullets at him. Two bullets penetrated his abdomen and chest and he fell on the road, bleeding profusely. Hearing his screams, some local residents ran to his rescue. Seeing them, the miscreants fled from the spot. Bhuniya was rushed to Howrah District Hospital, where he revealed his identity. However, a few minutes later, he succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.