Toto driver hacked to death in Malda over fare dispute near police outpost

A Toto driver, Kajal Ghosh, was killed in a violent incident near a police outpost in the Belbari Ghat area of Malda on the night of January 21. Ghosh, a resident of Baroduari in Ramkeli, had taken her Toto to the Belbari Ghat crematorium to collect the fare from a passenger she had dropped off. Following the drop-off, Ghosh demanded the fare from two passengers, Shyamal Mondal and Bimal Mondal. The two men, who were reportedly intoxicated, refused to pay, which led to a dispute between them and Ghosh.

During the altercation, Mondal and Bimal allegedly attacked Ghosh with a sharp lance, inflicting severe injuries. She was rescued and rushed to the hospital but died en route due to the extent of her wounds. The incident occurred near a police outpost, and a written complaint was filed with the English Bazar Police Station, naming Shyamal Mondal, Bimal Mondal, and others in connection with the attack. Police are currently investigating the case, but no arrests have been made yet.

This incident adds to a rising number of violent crimes in Malda in recent weeks. Earlier this month, a Trinamool councilor was murdered in the English Bazar area, followed by the killing of another Trinamool worker in Kaliach. These incidents have raised concerns about the law and order situation in the district, especially in light of the proximity of the latest murder to a police outpost. The authorities have intensified their efforts to investigate the ongoing violence in the region.