Howrah developer shot dead publicly; BJP alleges TMC MLA link
KOLKATA, Feb 25: Tension gripped Howrah’s Pilkhana area after 27-year-old real estate developer Safiq Khan was shot dead in broad daylight near Second Bye Lane early Wednesday. CCTV footage showed two assailants, Harun Khan and Rafakat, firing multiple shots at Khan’s head and chest before fleeing. Police suspect the killing stemmed from a long-standing real estate rivalry, with Khan’s family claiming the accused had demanded money. BJP alleged the killers had links to local TMC MLA Goutam Chowdhury, citing past images of Harun Khan at party events and riding on the MLA’s motorcycle, calling the murder a “cold, calculated execution.” TMC leaders denied political involvement, attributing the incident to business disputes. Violence and protests erupted, with locals blocking roads and attacking journalist Mayukh Thakur Chakraborty. Police and RAF intervened, but no arrests have been made. The BJP criticized West Bengal’s law and order, citing the incident as part of a climate of fear ahead of elections. (PTI)
Delhi man kills wife, three daughters over son preference
NEW DELHI, Feb 25: A horrific incident occurred in Delhi’s Prem Chand Park area, where a man allegedly slit the throats of his two-month pregnant wife, Anita (27), and their three daughters, aged three, four, and five. Police suspect the killings may be linked to the couple’s desire for a son, though other angles, including a possible extramarital affair, are being investigated. The bodies were discovered Wednesday morning by relatives after a PCR call. Preliminary findings suggest the suspect, Munchun Kewat, may have intoxicated his family before attacking them. Kewat, a vegetable seller from Bihar, has been missing since early morning and is the prime suspect. Crime and Forensic Science teams collected evidence at the scene, and postmortems are underway. A murder case under Section 103(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita has been registered, and multiple police teams are searching to apprehend Kewat. (PTI)
Officials foils child marriage after 16-year-old elopes
BUNDI, Feb 25: Authorities in Bundi, Rajasthan, prevented the wedding of a 16-year-old girl who had eloped with a 24-year-old man on February 13. The man allegedly moved her between relatives’ homes, obtained a notarised live-in relationship certificate, and altered her Aadhaar birth date. He even circulated photos of them exchanging garlands at a temple. The girl’s relatives reportedly persuaded her parents not to file a missing persons complaint. The man’s family planned a traditional wedding on February 24. The Child Welfare Committee (CWC) and Childline investigated, surveilled the temple, and located the girl at a relative’s house. A Nainwan court issued an injunction preventing her marriage for two years and directed authorities to monitor the case. Notices will also be issued to the advocate and e-Mitra kiosk involved. (PTI)
