The Howrah City Police apprehended three individuals for reportedly assisting the perpetrators involved in the killing of promoter Shafiq Khan in Peelkhana, Howrah. The primary suspects, Harun Khan and Rohit Hossain, who allegedly executed the shooting, remain at large after fatally shooting the 27-year-old at close range.
Authorities disclosed that the trio was nabbed from the Jorasanko area in north Kolkata late at night based on specific intelligence inputs. The arrested individuals were identified as Mohammad Bilal, 36, a resident of Kalabagan, Mohammad Wakil alias Munna, 32, and Dildar Hossain, both residents of Boubazar.
Following the incident, it is believed that the main accused sought refuge at Bilal’s residence in Jorasanko. Police sources revealed that the detained suspects maintained regular contact with the shooters, prompting Howrah City Police detectives to interrogate them in a bid to locate Harun Khan and Rohit Hossain.
A murder case has been filed at Golabari Police Station, with ongoing efforts to track down the two principal assailants, Harun Khan and Rohit Hossain, who were captured on CCTV during the fatal attack on Shafiq Khan. Various teams are currently conducting searches across different locations to locate the fugitives.
Amidst the investigation, a video surfaced showing Harun Khan riding pillion on the motorcycle of Howrah Uttar MLA Gautam Chowdhuri, accompanied by a photo of the two individuals walking together, circulating widely on social media. Opposition voices have raised concerns about the potential influence of the suspects’ alleged connections to ruling party members on the police’s pursuit of the fugitives, despite the available video evidence.
The police have refrained from commenting on these allegations, maintaining focus on the ongoing investigation into the shooting incident. The killing of the 27-year-old promoter, captured on CCTV, sparked unrest in the area, prompting residents to stage protests by blocking roads and setting tires on fire.
In a separate incident, law enforcement arrested six individuals for reportedly assaulting a video journalist covering the shooting. The journalist suffered a fractured nose after being attacked by an enraged mob, leading to swift arrests following the assault.
