BALURGHAT: A youth was critically injured after he was shot from point blank range in South Dinajpur's Buniadpur area on Thursday night, police said.
The police have initiated an investigation and booked the accused Manik Haldar (22) in connection with the incident. Preliminary investigation revealed that a love affair was responsible for the incident.
According to a police source, the incident occurred around 9 pm when a minor girl hailing from Khushipur under ward no 1 of Buniadpur civic body was returning home after a private tuition centre. On the way at Sherpur Mosque area under ward no 2 of the same civic body, the accused had blocked her road and was involved in a quarrel with her. After hearing the sound of the quarrel, the youths from a local club reached the spot to rescue the girl and Haldar allegedly had fired from point blank range which injured a youth Raja Das (20) critically.
Das was rushed to adjacent Rashidpur rural hospital from where he was taken to Gangarampur superspecialty hospital. Later he was referred to Malda Medical College and Hospital after his condition turned grim.
Receiving the news from the locals, the police from Banshihari police station reached the spot immediately and booked Haldar. A pistol was also seized by the police from the area.
Police said the accused had a love affair with the minor girl. Recently their relationship deteriorated.
The family members of the minor girl had, however, demanded that there was no love affair between the duos and after being rejected by her, he had started irritating her.
Police said Haldar had returned from New Delhi a few months ago and started residing in his maternal-uncle's house located just beside the minor girl's house.
Originally Haldar hails from Kushmandi block and his parents are still residing in New Delhi for work.