In the early hours of Thursday, a gang of robbers used a boat to reach their target, triggering panic in north Kolkata's Cossipore. They carried out an armed heist at an under-construction luxury housing project.
Robbery Details
The gang allegedly arrived via the Hooghly River, breached the site, and exchanged gunfire with private security guards before fleeing by boat with construction material worth over Rs 2 lakh.
Police Response
Kolkata Police formed a special investigation team to probe the heist. By Friday, nine people had been apprehended, including six juveniles. A significant portion of the stolen goods has been recovered, while efforts continue to trace adult accomplices and recover the firearms used.
Officer Transferred
The incident has sent shockwaves through the administrative ranks of the Kolkata Police, leading to the immediate transfer of the local station's OC to the Special Branch, amid allegations of his delayed response. Lalbazar though called it routine, stating a few other officers too have been transferred.
Complaint Filed
According to a complaint filed by Debasish Nath, manager of Oswal Residential Building Pvt Ltd, around 10 miscreants entered the project at Rustamji Parshi Road and stole aluminium panels, concrete pipes, TMT steel, iron rods, and electrical conduit pipes. Investigators said the attackers locked four engineers inside a room before opening fire to spread terror. Preliminary findings suggest around five rounds were exchanged, though police declined to confirm the exact count. No injuries were reported.
Residents Shocked
Residents near Sadhu Ghat reported hearing gunshots around 3 am. The incident sparked concern within Kolkata Police and led to the transfer of Cossipore OC Sudipta Das amid allegations of delayed reporting. Cops, however, said it was a routine reshuffle.
