A Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker was shot dead by unidentified miscreants late on Monday night at Ghona village in North 24 Parganas district, triggering shock and tension across the locality.
The deceased was identified as Anwar Hossain Gazi, 25, a former bodyguard of a Trinamool MLA who had recently taken up farming.
According to police sources, Anwar was sitting on a motorbike outside a local tea shop, scrolling through his mobile phone, when the attackers opened fire on him. The incident occurred at around 9 PM in the presence of nearly 15 to 20 people at the shop. Eyewitnesses reported that three shots were fired in quick succession, following which Anwar tried to flee. However, he collapsed a short distance away, bleeding profusely.
Local residents rushed him to Basirhat Hospital, where doctors declared him brought dead.
Police reached the scene soon after and launched an investigation. By early Tuesday, four suspects were arrested on suspicion of involvement in the murder. Superintendent of Police Hossain Mehedi Rahman confirmed that eight individuals have been named in the FIR, and a manhunt is underway to apprehend the remaining accused.
“We are exploring all angles, including personal enmity and any other potential motives behind the murder,” the SP said.
Although Anwar had once been closely associated with a Trinamool MLA as a bodyguard, both his family and party members dismissed the possibility of a political motive.
Local TMC panchayat member Saddam Hossain Gazi, who witnessed the incident, said, “We were sitting at the tea shop as usual. Suddenly, miscreants came and shot Anwar three times. There was chaos, people fled. Later, we found him lying in a pool of blood next to his bike.”
He added, “I believe this is not a political killing. There may have been some personal rivalry. We want the police to arrest all the culprits quickly.”
Anwar’s uncle, Fazer Ali Gazi, echoed a similar sentiment. “We don’t know who killed him. But I don’t think there was any political link. We’ve requested the police to take strict action,” he said.
The four arrested persons were produced before the Basirhat sub-divisional court on Tuesday afternoon, where the police sought their custody for further interrogation.
Police patrols have been stepped up in the area to prevent any tension or unrest, while investigators continue to collect CCTV footage and witness statements.
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