25-year-old shot dead in Bengal's Alipurduar

A 25-year-old man was shot dead allegedly by his cousin in West Bengal's Alipurduar district over a land dispute, police said on Friday.

Bapi Pandit was shot from a close range by his cousin Biplab Basak with his licensed gun on Thursday night in Arabindanagar area of the district, they said.

Pandit's family had a long-time tiff with the Basaks over the land, police said, adding that it is suspected that he was killed over the dispute.

Basak, a well-known BJP worker in the area, has fled after the incident. His brother-in-law, Kanu Mallik, has been arrested in connection with the murder, police said.

The Trinamool Congress has claimed that Pandit was a member of its youth wing.

Alipurduar's TMC MLA Sourav Chakraborty claimed that the killing was not linked to the land dispute.

BJP, however, said that Basak is not a member of the party.

"He may have only voted for the BJP," said the party's district president Gangaprasad Sharma.

Following the incident, locals raised questions that how Basak, a small-time trader, had a licensed gun.

Superintendent of Police Nagendra Sharma said, "We have seized the gun and are on the hunt for the accused. He will be arrested soon."