By Soumitra Nandi
Kolkata: A 19 year old youth was shot dead by a group of miscreants after he had protested against gambling at a fair. The murder took place at Pujali near Budge Budge in South 24 Parganas district  around 25 kilometres from the heart of the city on Friday night. Shiekh Mofidul 19 was called at the fair ground at Ramchandrapur in Pujali on Friday late night and shot dead.

The family members of the victim alleged that the murder was the handiwork of one local hoodlum Akram who is sheltered by the ruling Trinamool Congress party in the area. 

Superintendent of police South 24 Parganas Praveen Tripathy said, “We have already arrested two of the accused Niyaz Hussain alias Tarzan and Sheikh Mofiuddin for their involvement in the murder. Search is on to nab Akram.” The duo were produced at Alipore court on Saturday and were remanded to police custody till May 8.

According to police sources, a fair was being held at a field at Ramchandrapur in Pujali where Akram along with his associates got embroiled in a quarrel with the fair authorities. Sheikh Mofidul being a local youth intervened and got involved in the trouble. When the fair ended he returned to his home. However, he was called taking the name of one of his friend at the fair ground again and was shot. The miscreants escaped from the spot leaving Mofidul writhing in pain. 

The youth was rushed to Vidyasagar Hospital where he was declared brought dead.  Police on Saturday morning recovered a firearms from the pond inside the fairground which was used for the murder.
Locals alleged that the main accused Akram who is still at large is close to TMC block president Amirul Islam alias Khokon.

BJP state president Rahul Sinha who visited the victim’s family said,” I will send a detailed report regarding this incident to the centre. I will also speak with Governor Keshari Nath Tripathy.”