Kolkata, Aug. 30 -- Tension gripped the North Port area late on Saturday night following a shootout that left a man critically injured.
Terrified residents locked themselves indoors as heavy police pickets were deployed near the P. K. Tagore ghat to prevent retaliatory violence and maintain law and order. The victim, Santosh
Chawdhary, is currently battling for his life at Calcutta Medical College and Hospital after sustaining a point-blank gunshot wound to his abdomen. Till last reports came in, his condition was stable.
According to sources, Santosh was shot in front of the P. K. Tagore ghat by his relative Kartik Sonakar alias Khargosh, who is a notorious criminal. Sonakar is a history-sheeter who has been recently released from prison.
The neighbourhood descended into chaos shortly after midnight when Sonakar arrived on a scooter with armed associates at the place where Santosh was present.
Following a brief altercation, Sonakar pulled a firearm and shot Santosh in the stomach before fleeing. The sound of gunfire triggered widespread panic. Local residents rushed out of their home and found Santosh bleeding profusely on the street. Angry locals and relatives staged a protest, demanding the immediate arrest of Sonkar.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.