Trader shot at in broad daylight in Bongaon

Bike borne miscreants shot at a trader in broad day light at Garapota-Kandipur in Bongaon, North 24 Parganas. The incident took place on Monday morning when Bimal Das, a 42-year-old trader, was shot twice from point black range. 

Das was standing in front of his truck when assailants shot at him. He fell on the ground as the miscreants decamped from the spot. They threatened the other traders in the area too.

Police started investigation and the sniffer dogs were brought in the area. The dogs started to run towards the main road, but suddenly lost the trail. “The reason of the shoot-out is still unknown. We suspect the business rivalry may be the reason,” said a police officer. 

The local traders called up an ambulance to rush the bullet-injured trader to a nearby hospital. The trader was admitted to the hospital in a critical condition. Further police investigation revealed, Das was an exporter of Bangladeshi goods via Indo-Bangladesh border. But recently he was involved in a tiff with some of his business rivals. “Condition of the victim is critical. Doctors did not give us permission to interrogate him. So we will wait till his discharge,” the police officer said.

It can be recalled that a cattle smuggler at Bongaon was shot similarly a few weeks back while he was returning home. The investigator learnt that some local anti-socials might be involves in the case.

“This area has become vulnerable to crime. Many anti-socials are plying freely her. Some cases were really horrible. We have started investigation and arrested a few accused. This case will also be solved soon,” a police officer said.

However, Das’s family gave some important information to the investigators. “He was recently involved in money transferring trade. He was trying to lend money to people during this period of demonetisation of old notes. He might have developed some enemies,” the officer added.