TMC member shot at by miscreants in Murshidabad, stated to be critical

Kolkata: A Panchayat member of Trinamool Congress in the Naoda area of Murshidabad was shot at by some unidentified miscreants. His condition has been stated to be critical.

The victim has been identified as Sanatan Mondal. He is a member of Bali 1 Gram Panchayat in the district. The incident took place on Tuesday night. Mondal, a resident of Naoda area had received a phone call from an unknown number on Tuesday night following which he left the house.

A few meters away from his house the victim was surrounded by as many as 5 miscreants. One of the miscreants took out a gun and shot at him from the close quarter. The victim received bullet injuries on his right hand. After hearing the gun shot, some locals rushed to the spot only to find the victim in a pool of blood.

The miscreants had, however, fled the spot before locals could arrive there. Mondal was rushed to Murshidabad Medical College and Hospital. He was shifted to a hospital in Kolkata on late Tuesday night as his health condition deteriorated.

After the incident the district police officers reached the spot and collected some samples from the site. Police have arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in the incident so far. They are yet to reveal the identities of the accused. The district Trinamool Congress leaders have alleged that Congress-backed goons might be responsible for the incident. According to the district Trinamool Congress leaders, it was a deliberate attempt by the Congress to weaken the party organisation.

The victim had been instrumental in strengthening the party's organisation in the district, TMC leaders said. The Congress leaders in the district have, however, denied the allegation and termed the incident a result of intra-party clash within the TMC.

Cops are yet to ascertain the motive behind the attempt.

They are investigating if any political rivalry had led to the incident. It was learnt that the victim's health condition is serious.