Sushanta Ghosh, a Trinamool Congress councillor from Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) ward number 108, narrowly escaped an attack on Friday evening when two individuals attempted to shoot him at close range, according to a senior police officer cited by PTI.
"We are interrogating him to find out the motive. ," the policeman said adding that the man possibly came from Bihar.
However, no bullets were fired when one of the assailants, who arrived on a two-wheeler, pulled the trigger of a handgun. The officials mentioned that one of the attackers, who was later attackers, who was apprehended by the locals, was arrested by the police.
"The incident happened at around 8.10 PM when two men arrived in a two-wheeler at Kasba. One of them got down and tried to fire at him. However, no bullet was released from the handgun may be due to some mechanical error," the officer said. As the gun failed to fire, the attacker attempted to jump onto the bike, however, the locals managed to apprehend him, while the other individual managed to escape, informed the officer.
Gosh, who was shocked by the incident, mentioned that he had no idea about the accused, also adding that he had never imagined he would be attacked in his own area.
"I have been a councillor for 12 years and never thought that I could be attacked and that too while I am sitting in my area," Ghosh said.
A police team was sent to the area, and an investigation was launched. Later, local MP Mala Roy and MLA Javed Khan visited the councillor.
Reportedly, the incident took place at nearly 8:30 PM on Friday and was also captured on CCTV camera. The footage, making the rounds on social media platforms, shows two men arriving on a scooter. The man riding pillion got off and walked up to Ghosh, who was seated in a chair at his home in the Kasba area. While the man came closer, and attempted to fire at the TMC leader, the revolver couldn't fire due to some malfunctioning.
As the two men tried to flee the spot after failing in their in their intentions, the supporters and the locals chased them and were successful in catching one of them.