TMC councillor shot by bikers in Asansol

Asansol: A Trinamool Con-gress councillor of Asansol Municipal Corporation was shot dead late on Saturday, turning the area restive as tyres were set on fire and roads blocked on Sunday.

Locals said Khalid Khan (45) was a victim of intra-party rivalry. But Trinamool leader and Bengal consumer affairs minister Sadhan Pande saw BJP’s “role” in the murder.

State BJP president Dilip Ghosh denied the allegation.

Khalid was taking a st-roll in a compound adjacent to his house in Manberia village, under Kulti police station, around 11.30pm when a group of bikers opened fire on him, police said. A bullet hit his right leg, throwing a profusely bleeding Khalid to the ground. The assailants fired again until he was hit in the throat. Police believe the attackers fired repeatedly until they were certain he was dead. Khalid was taken to a nearby hospital where he was declared brought dead.

Family members on Su-nday said it was not the first time Khalid had come und-er attack. “There was an attempt on his life four years ago. He was saved somehow,” said brother Arman. “He was a popular leader and stood up against wrongdoings. He created enemies, meanwhile. There were enemies within the party too who wanted him to go.”

Residents believe Khalid, a councillor of ward 66, was attacked by the same group that tried to kill him four years ago.

Deputy mayor Tabassum Ara said: “Those guilty should be brought to book. We have faith in police. There are rumours doing the rounds; we ask people not to fall prey to those.”

The area turned restive on Sunday after news of the death spread. Locals downed shop shutters near Begunia Mor even as tyres were set on fire. Nearby roads were blocked until combat force and RAF intervened and brought the situation under control.