Promoter with criminal record hacked to death on Pottery Road

Kolkata: A promoter, Tapas Naskar, (39) with a lengthy criminal record, was hacked to death on Tuesday night in Kolkata's Entally area, sparking concerns over a violent gang rivalry tied to the local construction business. Naskar was reportedly attacked with sharp weapons in an alley on Pottery Road shortly after returning to the neighbourhood following a long absence, having stayed away to avoid ongoing friction and police preventive arrest during elections. While local residents and family members suggest the killing is rooted in a deep-seated factional feud over developing a property in the area, Kolkata Police commissioner Ajay Nand has maintained that the incident was strictly the result of an old gang dispute with no political undercurrents attached.According to cops, Naskar had a history of involvement in anti-social activities and served significant prison time for various offences, including shooting. At present, he had 18 cases against him.His daughter, Sayani Naskar, alleged that her father was lured out of his home on Tuesday evening by some individuals promising to resolve long-standing disputes. Instead, he was cornered and brutally assaulted within his neighbourhood. He was reportedly pinned down and stabbed and hit with sharp objects multiple times.While locals reported hearing gunshots during the confrontation, police denied the same. Cops are primarily investigating the death as a result of hacking by sharp-edged weapons.The deceased's mother, Jamini Naskar, said her son had been in this business for the past 10 years. "My son was asked to pay cut money per floor by some Trinamool workers. When he refused, they filed a fake case and my son spent two years in jail. He returned after they promised reconciliation. My son was entering the alley leading to our house when he was stopped by seven men and taken to a deserted place. He was murdered and then packed in a gunny bag. He was the breadwinner and has two daughters who now have no future," she claimed.The investigation has so far led to the detention of the chief accused, with Nand confirming that five or six other suspects — all reportedly known to the deceased — have been identified.