KOLKATA/PURULIA: A 48-year-old Panihati councillor was shot in the head when he stepped out to buy medicines for his pet dog in Agarpara on Sunday evening. Anupam Dutta, a two-time Trinamool Congress councillor, died before he could be taken to hospital. This came close on the heels of a 52-year-old four-time
Jhalda
councillor being shot by unidentified miscreants while out for his evening walk. Congress's
Tapan Kandu
died before he could be taken to hospital.
In North 24 Parganas's Panihati, Trinamool workers blocked BT Road demanding immediate arrest of Dutta's assailants. Police are checking CCTV footage at Agarpara Station Road to identify the attackers.
According to party sources, Dutta had bought medicines and was returning home on foot when two motorcycle-borne miscreants intercepted him. They shot Dutta up close three times, sources said. Two bullets hit him in the head and shoulder. Local party workers first took Dutta to the Panihati state general hospital. He was being moved to a Kolkata hospital when party workers, seeing him motionless, rushed him to a private hospital in Belghoria. He was declared dead there.
Panihati MLA Partha Bhowmik said: "We want the killers arrested, whoever they are. There is CCTV footage and police are working on the case. I have spoken to police and urged immediate action. We have faith in the administration."
The party's assembly chief whip,
Nirmal Ghosh
, said: "He was killed by political rivals."
BJP alleged that the death was the fallout of Trinamool infighting. Police did not comment, citing ongoing probe.
In Jhalda, Kandu, according to sources, was intercepted by motorcycle-borne assailants who fired three rounds. Two bullets hit him in the head and neck. Police said they were fired probably from a .32 bore revolver. The attackers fled towards Baghmundi.
Kandu was taken to the Jhalda primary health centre and was being shifted to a Ranchi hospital when he died. Purulia police superintendent S Selvamurugan said: "We are investigating."
Trinamool demanded that Kandu's killers be arrested immediately.
Kandu wasn't only a four-time councillor but also the former chairperson and vice-chairperson of Jhalda Municipality. He had won from ward 2 while his wife Purnima won from ward 12. TMC and Congress were locked with 5 seats each in the 12-seat municipality but TMC inched forward with the support of an Independent.
Incidentally,
Kandu
and his wife had attended a party meeting in Purulia where all newly elected councillors were felicitated. Congress district president
Nepal Mahato
has called a 12-hour bandh in Purulia, Jhalda and Raghunathpur municipalities.
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