Tension escalated in Howrah’s Pilkhana area after the BJP staged a protest and gheraoed Golabari Police Station, alleging that one of the accused in the murder of a promoter is a close associate of an MLA. The protest comes amid public outrage over the killing of 27-year-old real estate businessman Shafique Khan, who was shot dead in the early hours of Wednesday. Police have maintained strict deployment in the locality to prevent any further disturbance.
In the course of the investigation, three persons — Mohammad Bilal, Mohammad Wakil and Dildar Hossain — have been detained for allegedly helping the two main accused, Harun Khan and Rohit, escape and providing them shelter after the shooting. Detectives of the Howrah City Police conducted multiple raids across Howrah and Kolkata before detaining the trio, who are now being interrogated. The murder took place around 4:10 a.m. near a tea stall on Second Bye Lane, where Shafique Khan was shot at close range in the head and chest. CCTV footage is being examined as part of the ongoing probe, while efforts continue to trace the absconding prime accused.