KOLKATA: Investigators confirmed the murder of city businessman Sheikh Mohammad Salauddin on Monday was not for robbery. Police sources hinted Salauddin drove to Ultadanga police station because a former OC was known to him. Though his family have ruled out any business enmity, there are rumours that he had a bitter relation with another transporter.
Police say the killer was known to Salauddin or their meeting was pre-arranged.
Salauddin was shot at a very close range, though perhaps not point-blank, say police sources. There were no scorch marks on the body. The blood smears on the steering wheel and driving seat suggest that Salauddin was in the driving seat when he was shot. The killer may have been sitting in the front passenger's seat or at the door, say police. Investigators suspect that the first two bullets were fired with the shooter's resting his pistol on the car's window (bullet casings were ejected and landed in the car). The third and fatal bullet was possibly fired from a standing position since it had a downward trajectory.
But why did the killer leave without ensuring Salauddin was dead? And how did the victim push his killer out of the car? "Several clues are missing. We are yet to confirm exactly how he was killed," said Ghosh.