Key witness in Malda's TMC worker murder case shot, critical

A shootout in Malda district on Sunday night has left a local contractor seriously injured, raising concerns about law and order in the region. The victim, identified as Atimul Momen (33), was shot at close range by unidentified assailants in the Kanaipur area under the Englishbazar police station. He was rushed to Malda Medical College Hospital, where his condition is reported to be critical.

The incident occurred near the Amriti petrol pump. According to reports, the attackers, who were on a motorcycle, fired multiple shots at Momen before fleeing the scene. He sustained a bullet wound to his chest. Momen, a resident of Bania village in Amriti, is a contractor who works with a team of laborers. The sudden and brutal attack has sent shockwaves through the local community.

Initial findings from local sources suggest that the attack may not have been random. It is widely suspected that Atimul Momen was targeted because he was a key witness in a previous murder case. Momen was a witness to the murder of Trinamool worker Abu Kalam Azad, who was killed in the Lakshmipur area of Englishbazar on July 10. The prior murder case had led to the arrest of Trinamool leader Mainul Sheikh and his son, who are currently in jail.

Momen's family members and close associates have alleged that the attackers were trying to eliminate him to prevent him from testifying in the murder trial. They believe the assailants were hired to silence him and remove him as a threat to the accused. The motive of the attack is therefore believed to be directly connected to the ongoing legal proceedings of the previous murder case.

Upon receiving the information, police from the Englishbazar police station immediately rushed to the crime scene. They began interrogating the injured victim and eyewitnesses to gather more information about the perpetrators and the circumstances of the shooting. A formal investigation has been launched to determine the identities of the attackers and to confirm the link between the two cases.