Businessman shot at in Howrah

KOLKATA: A man was shot at in Howrah late on Monday night, by an extortionist. Rakesh Rai was shot from close range around 9.45 pm 0n Monday by Manoj Mishra in Hardatta Rai Chamaria Lane, under the Golabari police station. The seriously injured Rai is under treatment at the SSKM hospital. One of his employees too was shot at and is being treated in the same hospital.Twenty-eight year old Rai, a resident of Belilious Road was shot at when he was standing on the pavement near his office, discussing business with his friends Ghanashyam Agrawal and Ajay Singh. Manoj with two accomplices approached Rai and shot him in the arm. Rai ran for cover in his office where Avadhesh Kumar, an employee of his, tried to close the door and save his boss. But he too was shot. The trio barged into the office room, shot Rai in the leg, dragged him out and pumped two more bullets into his chest before fleeing in a waiting car. The Rai family, which is into transportation business, have been working from the current office for just over a year. The accused, Manoj Mishra, is a resident of Dobson Road - a stone's throw from Rai's office. He is a known extortionist in the locality. Manoj Rai, the victim's brother told TNN that the attempt on Rai's life was to avenge an incident that forced Mishra to leave the locality few months ago. Mishra had gone to collect hafta from a shop where the shopkeeper refused to pay up. Local club members led by my brother had filed an FIR against Mishra, he said.