Gunfire Erupts in Assam's Kharupetia After Financial Dispute Between Friends

A serious shooting incident took place last night at Gopal Nagar in Kharupetia under Darrang district of Assam, leaving one person critically injured.

The victim, identified as Munna Saha (also known as Abhijit Saha), was shot in the chest and rushed to a hospital in critical condition.

Preliminary reports indicate that the shooting occurred during a personal dispute between Munna Saha and his friend Ananta Biswas.

“It was a quarrel that escalated quickly,” a local resident said, adding, “They were friends, but tensions rose over financial matters, and the argument turned violent.”

The Darrang Police recovered an Italy-made 9mm pistol along with two live rounds at the scene. However, the ownership of the firearm remains unclear. Sources suggest that the pistol did not belong to Ananta Biswas, who has been arrested in connection with the incident. Biswas is a professional goldsmith by trade.

Speaking about the incident, Ananta Biswas’s father, Dhiren Biswas, said:

"Munna was supposed to receive Rs 1 lakh from my younger son, Ananta. Last night, he demanded Rs 3,000, which Ananta could not provide—this amount likely pertained to a prior transaction between them. Following this, Munna threatened my son. I was not present during the incident. Initially, a scuffle broke out between them, but later, Ananta called my elder son to the shop without mentioning the incident at that time.

Munna reportedly deals in interest-based transactions, possibly returning money from the principal, though I am not certain. When I visited the spot, Munna told me that Ananta had hit him, fired a shot, and also punched him in the back. About a month or two ago, Munna had complained to me that my son had not returned his money, but he had never brought a pistol then.

The real mystery is who brought the gun to the scene. According to Munna, Ananta had the pistol to shoot at him, which is surprising as my son never possessed any firearms. I am certain the gun does not belong to him."

Local sources indicate that the quarrel may have been related to long-standing financial transactions between the two friends.

“They had been involved in money dealings for a long time,” a resident added. “It seems the argument over money led to the shooting.”

Darrang Police are conducting a thorough investigation and questioning witnesses to reconstruct the events and determine the origin of the firearm.

The investigation is ongoing, and police have assured that all responsible parties will be held accountable.

Also Read: Targeting Mosques Won’t Fix Illegal Immigration — It Will Break Arunachal’s Harmony