A Trinamool Congress gram panchayat chief and one of his close associates were critically injured after being shot in the Sapuipara area of Howrah district, near Kolkata.

The victim, identified as Debabrata Mondal (popularly known as Babu Mondal), along with his associate Anupam Rana, sustained severe bullet injuries and is undergoing treatment at S.S.K.M. Medical College and Hospital. Mondal’s condition is reported to be extremely critical.

According to eyewitness accounts, Mondal and Rana were returning home on a motorcycle after attending a wedding late Thursday night. Rana was driving while Mondal rode pillion. Their vehicle was intercepted by unidentified assailants, who then opened fire.

“Rana was shot first. As the two fell from the motorcycle, the attackers fired multiple rounds, injuring both severely. They fired nearly six to seven rounds before fleeing,” a local resident said.

Mondal is believed to have been shot in the shoulder and abdomen. Initially taken to a nearby nursing home, both men were shifted to S.S.K.M. on Friday morning due to their critical condition.

The incident has sparked a political war of words. Local Trinamool leaders have accused BJP-backed miscreants of orchestrating the attack, while the BJP has alleged that internal rivalry within the ruling party led to the shooting.

Police have launched an intensive investigation and are reviewing CCTV footage from the area. They are examining whether the attack stemmed from political enmity or a personal dispute. The attackers are still at large, and tension prevails in the locality.

Residents say Mondal was a powerful figure in the area, which had reportedly led to conflicts with several individuals.