Daijiworld Media Network - Cooch Behar

Cooch Behar, Aug 9: A shocking act of violence unfolded today in West Bengal's Cooch Behar district, as a youth leader, son of a prominent Trinamool Congress (TMC) panchayat head, was gunned down in broad daylight. The audacious killing has sent ripples through the local political landscape.

The victim has been identified as Amar Roy, an active member of the local TMC youth wing and son of Kuntala Roy, who leads the Dawaguri village panchayat.

Eyewitnesses recounted to police a sudden escalation of a dispute at a bustling weekly market. Roy, accompanied by an associate, became embroiled in an altercation with another group of youths who arrived on motorcycles. "One of them suddenly produced a firearm and shot the youth from point-blank range," a stunned eyewitness informed media personnel.

Struck in the head, Roy collapsed and was rushed to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. The assailants, including the shooter, vanished instantly, fleeing the scene on their motorcycles.

Cooch Behar District Police Superintendent, Dyutiman Bhattacharya, confirmed that the group of perpetrators arrived on two motorcycles and stated that "investigation in the matter is on." The motive behind the brutal murder remains unclear, with authorities yet to ascertain if the crime stemmed from personal animosity or political rivalry.

This incident marks a fresh wave of unrest in Cooch Behar, which was recently in the spotlight following an alleged attack on the convoy of West Bengal Assembly's Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari. Adhikari's convoy was reportedly targeted by Trinamool Congress activists and supporters earlier this week. A complaint naming 41 individuals, including local TMC leader and North Bengal Development Minister Udayan Guha, has been registered in connection with that assault. Adhikari himself claimed his bulletproof vehicle saved his life during the attack.