Kolkata: A builder was critically injured after three miscreants fired at him from a point-blank range in his construction site at Dum Dum Park on Saturday morning.
The builder has been identified as Shekhar Podder. The police are yet to arrest the criminals. Cops from Lake Town police station have begun an investigation and interrogated the masons and some locals who stay in the adjacent buildings. The police are also investigating whether business rivalry has led to the attack on the builder. It is alleged that Babu Nayak, a local goon, had asked the builder to pay Rs 20 lakh recently and the police are also probing if his henchmen have been involved in the attack. The police are examining the CCTV footage to identify the miscreants.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress leader Sujit Bose alleged that Babu had recently taken shelter under Rajesh Kanoria, a local BJP leader. He demanded stringent punishment of the criminals involved in the matter.
It was learnt that Podder was talking to another promoter, Chiradeep Roy, at his construction site when three miscreants with their faces covered with black cloth came on a motorcycle. They fired at Podder from a point-blank range. The bullets hit Podder's right hand and he fell on the ground, bleeding profusely. Before people could act, the miscreants left the area. Podder was taken to a private nursing home where he was admitted in a critical condition.
The incident has created a panic in the area. Locals alleged that some outsiders are visiting the area regularly and despite repeated complaints, the police have done nothing and no action has been taken.
They have demanded that patrolling in the area should be intensified. Several local residents alleged that Nayak had demanded Rs 20 lakh from Podder which he refused to give. They alleged that some criminals were enjoying Nayak's shelter and are creating trouble in the area.