A businessman who was travelling in a Hyundai Creta with two friends and was apparently going to meet another friend in Kidderpore in southwest Kolkata was shot at by a man on a motorcycle off Minto Park on Sunday night.
Pankaj Singh, 38, a resident of Salkia and a garments trader and a realtor, suffered a bullet injury in right chest and has been admitted to a hospital in Alipore.
An official of the hospital said on Monday evening he was undergoing surgery to remove the bullet.
“The patient was conscious and critical when he was brought to the hospital. He is undergoing surgery now,” the official said.
Police said Singh was shot at between 11.15pm and 11.20pm on the Exide-bound flank of AJC Bose Road, at its crossing with Woodburn Park Road, opposite Gorky Sadan.
A purported CCTV footage has emerged that shows at least three motorcycles stopping around the Hyundai Creta on AJC Bose Road. An altercation ensued between occupants of the car, who had stepped out, and people on bikes.
“One bullet was shot. It hit Singh, after which he walked back into the car and the vehicle sped away,” said an officer.
CCTV footage shows three bikes stopping around the Hyundai Creta on AJC Bose Road on Sunday night; (right) The footage shows Pankaj Singh grabbing his chest and walking back to the car after he was shot at
Telegraph pictureSeveral bikers and others stopped at the spot, possibly out of curiosity, and then went away.
After the firing, some of the youths who were apparently part of the group that crowded around the car were seen running and scaling a truck that was carrying an idol.
The police are not sure whether they were involved in the brawl or were curious onlookers.
“The victim was travelling with two of his friends named Vivek Singh and Kushal Jaiswal. They were on their way from Vivek’s Mullickbazar home to another friend’s house at Kidderpore,” said an officer.
Sources said the police had collected CCTV footage from outside Vivek’s home. “It seems Vivek Singh had an altercation with a few people. It is not yet clear whether the people were the same as the ones who opened fire,” the police said.
The spot on Monday afternoon
Picture by Bishwarup DuttaAccording to Jaiswal’s purported statement to the police, at least one motorcycle was chasing their car that overtook the vehicle and blocked its way.
“He said there was some altercation and then suddenly, one person on the bike opened fire,” an officer said quoting Jaiswal.
A police officer said the motorcycle that the shooter was riding could be seen in the footage but the image was not clear enough to identify the number plate.
“Based on the statement of the two men who were accompanying the victim, we have been able to identify at least one suspect,” the officer said.
Sources said a purported photograph of Pankaj Singh, partying with friends, had emerged. One of the friends is seen in the footage holding a gun in jest.
“We are examining who all had disputes with Singh,” an officer said.
According to one of Pankaj Singh’s brothers, several people were “jealous” of his flourishing business.
Till Monday evening, a number of people linked to Singh were questioned. No one was detained or arrested.
