KOLKATA: In a reflection of growing intolerance and brazen violence, a 75-yearold man was gunned down at Belghoria when he protested against some youths gambling and creating ruckus on Wednesday night. Two youngsters were arrested on Thursday.
The incident took place around 10.30pm, when four youths were gambling over a game of carom in a room owned by Zainul Haque, the victim himself, at Kamarhati’s Toothbagan near Belghoria. Residents of the area said Haque, a former employee of
Kamarhati jule mill, had allowed a group of youths to play carom in a room on his courtyard. “But soon, the group turned the place into a gambling den, playing carom with money and drinking every night. While Haque had warned them against gambling, the youths coerced the elderly man into take rent for the room and continued their game,” a resident of the area said. He alleged the youngsters would often get drunk and create ruckus till late in the night.
When a similar brawl broke out on Wednesday night, Haque reportedly couldn’t tolerate it anymore. “My father lost his temper, rushed into the room and told them to leave or he would take legal action. As an altercation broke out, one of the youths took out a gun and fired at him at point-blank range,” claimed
Arman Ali, Haque’s son. The bullet hit him in his neck and he was declared brought dead at Kamarhati Sagor Dutta Medical College and Hospital.
Based on a complaint, the police rounded up two of the accused, Afsar Ali alias Chottu and Asgar
Ali, on Thursday. “We are looking for two others,” a senior
Barrackpore commissionerate officer said.
Residents of the area claimed such a firing was nothing new in the area, including
Titagarh, Kamarhati,
Sodepur and Khardah. “The Barrackpore industrial belt has witnessed several gang wars, murders and robbery in the past six months. The frequent shootouts and bomb blasts have raised concerns about the easy availability of fire arms in the northern suburbs,” a local trader said.
Victim Zainul Haque was gunned down in his room, where he allowed locals to play carom 
