Peace Committee member Aftab Alam, who had opposed the illegal narcotics trade in Jamshedpur, died during treatment at a hospital in Kolkata. Following his death, local residents staged protests at multiple locations, demanding the arrest of the accused.
Aftab Alam, a resident of Carriage Colony Muslim Basti under the Burmamines police station area in Jamshedpur and a member of the Peace Committee, was shot multiple times by unidentified assailants on Sunday night. He was initially taken to Tata Main Hospital (TMH) and was later referred to Fortis Hospital in Kolkata after his condition became critical. He died during treatment on Tuesday morning.
After Aftab Alam's death, a large number of local residents took to the streets. Protesters burned tyres and blocked roads, including Burmamines police station road, demanding the immediate arrest of the accused. They warned that Aftab Alam's last rites would not be performed until all the accused had been arrested. Additional police personnel have been deployed in the area, and the situation is being continuously monitored.
According to police, Aftab Alam was fired upon indiscriminately near the railway container yard at around 8:55 pm on Sunday. Doctors stated that he had sustained seven bullet injuries, while another bullet wound was also found on his body. Despite surgery continuing late into the night, he could not be saved. Following his death, the process of adding a murder charge to the registered case is being initiated.
Based on a complaint filed by Aftab Alam's wife, Salma Qadri, Burmamines police registered a First Information Report against Shahwaz alias Bhondu, Mohammad Rehan, Ayan, Uday Mahto, Imran, Mohammad Samad, Rani Parveen, Angoori Begum, Kulseem Bibi, Bugli and two unidentified persons.
The complaint alleges that the attack was carried out as part of a pre-planned conspiracy. According to the First Information Report, one of the accused allegedly said, "Today we will kill Aftab," before shots were fired at him.
Family members have alleged that Aftab Alam had been campaigning for a long time against the illegal narcotics trade in the area. They said he had been actively working to keep young people away from narcotics and opposing illegal activities, because of which he had previously received multiple death threats.
Police said raids are continuing to trace the main accused. Authorities are also conducting a detailed investigation into the case and the alleged criminal network.
