Police nab three for aiding prime suspect of Howrah's Pilkhana firing case

Three persons have been detained for allegedly helping the two main accused in the Pilkhana shootout case that claimed the life of 27-year-old real estate businessman Shafique Khan. The detained individuals — Mohammad Bilal, Mohammad Wakil and Dildar Hossain — are said to be close associates of prime accused Harun Khan, a resident of Bowbazar in Kolkata. Police allege that they helped Harun Khan and another accused, Rohit, to escape and provided them shelter after the murder.

Detectives of the Howrah City Police conducted multiple raids across Howrah and Kolkata before detaining the trio. They are currently being interrogated to ascertain their role in aiding the accused and to gather leads on the whereabouts of the main suspects, who remain absconding. Further raids are ongoing as part of the manhunt.

The murder took place around 4:10 a.m. on Wednesday near a tea stall on Second Bye Lane in the Pilkhana area. Shafique Khan was shot at close range and sustained bullet injuries to his head and chest. He was rushed to the district hospital but was declared dead. CCTV footage from the area allegedly shows the assailants opening fire and fleeing, and investigators are examining the visuals as part of the probe.

Although no fresh untoward incident has been reported since the shooting, tension continues to prevail in the Pilkhana locality. Police deployment remains in place to maintain law and order. The victim’s family has stated that they will take to the streets again if necessary in pursuit of justice, even as authorities continue efforts to track down the main accused.