Man shot dead in Rishra

One person was shot dead by unidentified miscreants at Rishra in Hooghly district today.

A police officer said Sheikh Alauddin (45) was sitting at a tea stall when he was accosted by three gun-toting men this morning.

Alauddin was shot from a close range and he slumped to the ground, the officer said adding, the assailants escaped in a vehicle.

The victim was declared dead at hospital, the officer said.

Alauddin's family alleged the murder was plotted by a local councillor following disputes over fishing rights in a pond, but the councillor denied the charge and said the deceased had several criminal cases pending against him and was killed by a rival gang.