Malda, May 5: Traders of Pakua, under Bamongola police station, called a 12-hour bandh today to protest against the murder of a CPM worker of their area.

Police said two unidentified youths, riding bicycles, opened fire from their revolvers in front of a television shop, killing owner Balai Saha and injuring two others, before fleeing.

Paresh Saha and Riazul Islam were admitted to a hospital in critical condition.

The incident occurred around 8 pm yesterday.

The Rapid Action Force had been deployed and para-military forces stationed in the area since last night. No one has been arrested so far.

Zonal committee secretary of the CPM Lalu Sarkar alleged that the Opposition parties were creating panic before elections.

President of Malda Merchant Chambers of Commerce Debabrata Bose said: “We condemn the incident and demand the immediate arrest of the culprits.”

Malda district superintendent of police Sashikant Poojari said: “We are trying to verify if they had any personal grudge or whether this was the handiwork of a militant outfit.”