KOLKATA: In a rerun of the 2014 murder of Bamangachhi’s anti-hooch crusader Sourav Chowdhury, a college student was gunned down by criminals in Titagarh on Friday night for raising voice against the activities of a local gangster.
Three armed goons led by gangster Arif Iqbal alias Chottu arrived in motorcycles and allegedly fired five to six rounds at the victim Toufik Ali (21) in front of his house in Titagarh’s Uranapara. Ali had protested against the gang’s anti-social activities in the locality. Police on Saturday arrested Chottu and his aide Suraj Ali. Another accused is at large. The duo has been remanded in police custody for ten days after production in a Barrackpore court.
Police suspect that row over a movement launched by the victim against local criminals could have led to the murder.
Locals said Ali, a second year BA student from Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College, used to protest against anti-social activities in his locality and drew the ire of Chottu, a Sodepur-Titagarh based criminal. “Trouble broke out a couple of years ago when Chottu and his aides started committing crimes. Besides extortion, they used to operate several satta-gambling dens in Titagarh. They even consumed alcohol in public and made obscene gestures at girls. It was Ali who had had first raised his voice and organised a protest,” said Moharchand Ahmed, a local trader.
Sources said Chottu, who was wanted in some others crimes, had fled to the Gulf to evade arrest after committing twin robberies. “Chottu returned barely six months ago and began operating a gang in Titagarh. The members on motorbikes used to roam the area till late at night creating ruckus,” a local cable operator said.
On Friday night, while Ali was on his way back home on his two-wheeler, he found the bike gang creating ruckus in the locality. He protested and tried to stop them. “My braveheart brother asked them to leave the spot. But the trio whipped out their guns and fired at him before fleeing the spot. The goons pumped four bullets into Ali’s chest and one into his back. Ali then slumped to the ground, bleeding profusely,” said Nausad Alam, Ali’s cousin. The victim was rushed to Barrackpore BN Bose hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Police later raided a slum areas near Titagarh’s Brambhasthan and arrested Chottu and Suraj from a hideout. “We have already arrested two with a firearm and are looking for another accused. Though the motive behind the murder couldn’t be ascertained, primarily we suspect that the miscreants fired during a heated argument,” said Barrackpore police commissionerate DCP (central) Amandeep.
Three armed goons led by gangster Arif Iqbal alias Chottu arrived in motorcycles and allegedly fired five to six rounds at the victim Toufik Ali (21) in front of his house in Titagarh’s Uranapara. Ali had protested against the gang’s anti-social activities in the locality. Police on Saturday arrested Chottu and his aide Suraj Ali. Another accused is at large. The duo has been remanded in police custody for ten days after production in a Barrackpore court.
Police suspect that row over a movement launched by the victim against local criminals could have led to the murder.
Locals said Ali, a second year BA student from Barrackpore Rastraguru Surendranath College, used to protest against anti-social activities in his locality and drew the ire of Chottu, a Sodepur-Titagarh based criminal. “Trouble broke out a couple of years ago when Chottu and his aides started committing crimes. Besides extortion, they used to operate several satta-gambling dens in Titagarh. They even consumed alcohol in public and made obscene gestures at girls. It was Ali who had had first raised his voice and organised a protest,” said Moharchand Ahmed, a local trader.
Sources said Chottu, who was wanted in some others crimes, had fled to the Gulf to evade arrest after committing twin robberies. “Chottu returned barely six months ago and began operating a gang in Titagarh. The members on motorbikes used to roam the area till late at night creating ruckus,” a local cable operator said.
On Friday night, while Ali was on his way back home on his two-wheeler, he found the bike gang creating ruckus in the locality. He protested and tried to stop them. “My braveheart brother asked them to leave the spot. But the trio whipped out their guns and fired at him before fleeing the spot. The goons pumped four bullets into Ali’s chest and one into his back. Ali then slumped to the ground, bleeding profusely,” said Nausad Alam, Ali’s cousin. The victim was rushed to Barrackpore BN Bose hospital where he was declared brought dead.
Police later raided a slum areas near Titagarh’s Brambhasthan and arrested Chottu and Suraj from a hideout. “We have already arrested two with a firearm and are looking for another accused. Though the motive behind the murder couldn’t be ascertained, primarily we suspect that the miscreants fired during a heated argument,” said Barrackpore police commissionerate DCP (central) Amandeep.
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