Tension ran high at Dharmatala area of Malipachghara in Howrah on Sunday night after Deepak Singh and his younger brother, Pappu, a local businessmen in the area, were shot at by some miscreants after the victims refused to the pay extortion money.
The victims are undergoing treatment at different hospitals. Deepak's condition has been stated to be serious. The local people alleged that despite the area being situated at a stone's throw distance from the local police station, police came to the spot late. They also alleged that the victims were receiving threats from some local miscreants who had demanded extortion from the two brothers.
It has been learnt that Rintu Singh and Akash Singh had demanded an extortion of Rs two lakh from Deepak and his younger brother who run a mobile shop at Dharmatala area of Malipachghara four days ago. Deepak told the accused that they would not be able to pay to the amount. On Sunday nightl, Rintu and his associates assembled in Dharmatala area with arms and bombs. Few minutes later, the miscreants stormed into the shop of the victims and demanded the money.
As Deepak again expressed his inability to pay the amount, the miscreants ransacked his shop. As an altercation broke out between the accused and the victims, one of the miscreant took out a gun and shot Deepak from point blank. When Deepak's brother Pappu rushed to his rescue, the miscreants also shot him. Both the brothers fled from the spot with bullet injuries.
Following the incident, Akash and his associates fled from the spot on a motorcycle and hurled bombs in the area to terrify the locals.