Youth murdered by friend in Agarpara

Kolkata: A youth was shot dead allegedly by his friend when the victim went to the latter's house to attend a New Year party on Sunday night at Agarpara in North 24-Parganas.

Police said the victim Rajesh Basu, alias Bappa, was a medical representative by profession. He was killed allegedly by his friend Shantanu Roychowdhury, alias Totan.

According to the preliminary investigation, Totan had invited Rajesh to attend a New Year party in his house. Rajesh, along with his wife Piyali and five-year-old son, went to the house of Totan, who is also their neighbour.

Rajesh, Totan and some more friends were drinking alcohol in a room in the first floor of the house, while all of their wives and children were in another first floor room.

Suddenly, Piyali heard the sound of a gunshot and attempted to go to the room in the first floor. But she was stopped by Totan.

The victim's son had somehow managed to reach the room and found his father lying on the floor with his face covered with a jacket.

He removed the jacket and found his father profusely bleeding from his head and started crying for help. Realising that he would get caught, Totan had fled from the spot.

Local people gathered at the spot, hearing Piyali's cry for help and took him to Panihati State General Hospital where he was declared brought dead. He had received a bullet injury on his head.

Further investigation revealed that Rajesh and Totan had been close friends for several years. Totan often used to take money from Rajesh to buy alcohol. So, Rajesh had been maintaining a distance from him for the past two years.

Last night, it was Totan who had called up Rajesh and requested him to attend the party in his house. However, the exact reason behind the murder of Rajesh is yet to be ascertained.