Kamalesh being taken to the hospital. (Nityananda Sarkar)

Raiganj, April 17: A fruitseller was killed when a group of criminals fired at a contractor in Mohanbati market here this afternoon. Kamalesh Saha, however, has survived with bullet injuries.

The incident took place two months after a contractor was shot dead in a bar in town.

According to eyewitnesses, three motorcycle-borne men started firing indiscriminately at Kamalesh. One of the bullets hit Jadav Saha (26), a petty trader who sells fruits, on the chest. He died on the spot.

Kamalesh, a resident of Kalitala who was rushed to the district hospital here, said he had come to the market to book a cooking gas cylinder. “When I saw Biplob Chhetri, Banti and Mahadeb roaming there, I decided to turn back my motorcycle and flee. But they surrounded me and started beating me up. I fell on the ground. Biplob fired at me. I ran with blood oozing out of my hand. But soon I fell on the ground and lost consciousness,” he said from his hospital bed.

Kamalesh probably belongs to the rival gang, police said.

Rana Saha, a vegetable vendor in the market, said he saw the trio, carrying a revolver each, fleeing on a motorcycle that was parked outside his shop. “Even at that time, I did not know that my nephew had fallen prey to their bullets,” he said.

According to Mohanbati Bazar Committee president Jayanta Som, today’s incident has horrified the traders. “A police outpost is located close to the market. But the criminals went away nonchalantly.”

Retired teacher Nirmal Das, who had come to the market, said he had taken shelter in a shop when the firing started. “I had never witnessed such a horrifying scene. A total lawlessness prevails in the town,” he said.

The chairman of the Raiganj Municipality and a Congress leader, Mohit Sengupta, hinted at a nexus between a section of police officers and the criminals in Raiganj. “Cases have been pending against these three. But they have been roaming freely in town,” he alleged.

Swapan Banerjee Purnapatra, the North Dinajpur district police chief, confirmed that the three were the accused in the murder of the contractor two months ago. “Senior officials have been sent to investigate. The culprits will be arrested soon,” the police chief said.