The spot inside the New Town mall, where the boy was stabbed
Kolkata: A 20-year-old engineering student was arrested on Wednesday after allegedly stabbing his classmate repeatedly and slashing his neck, at a crowded shopping mall in New Town. All three — accused Sourik Pal, victim Ishan Paik (20) and their friend Milan Mondal (21) — are students of the University of Engineering and Management (UEM), New Town. The incident took place around 5 pm at Down Town Mall, barely 700m from the college campus and a popular hangout zone for students of the college.
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Police officers said a quarrel between the two classmates over a girl from their college may have triggered the attack. Police said Paik suffered severe injuries, including a deep wound to his neck. The condition of Ishan Paik continues to remain critical,” said a senior officer of Bidhannagar City Police. Tension had been building between Pal and Paik for some time over a girl from their class, with both allegedly being interested in her, according to cops. One of them then pulled out a knife from his bag and began slashing the other youth,” said a shopowner who witnessed the incident from a short distance. Witnesses said the attack was so sudden and violent that shoppers and others nearby kept their distance for several moments. It was a horrific sight,” said a doctor who runs a clinic at the mall.
The attack, carried out in front of hundreds of shoppers, left the victim battling for his life in a city hospital. Another boy was also injured while trying to intervene. Mondal sustained cuts and bruises while trying to stop the attack. Both were initially taken to a nearby private hospital before their relatives shifted them to another private hospital. “We have arrested the main accused. The conversation soon turned into an altercation. “While the two were chatting, an argument broke out between them. Mondal stepped in after Paik had already suffered a severe slash to his neck. He too was injured while trying to restrain Pal. It was only after other bystanders and shopkeepers intervened that Pal was overpowered. “I was inside my clinic when I heard a commotion outside. By the time I came out, the youth had already been overpowered and was being held by local shopkeepers and bystanders. Another person was calling the police and describing the attack. There was blood splattered all over. Download the TOI App.
On Wednesday, Pal reportedly asked Paik to walk with him and chat at a tea shop on the mall premises. University officials were contacted but they refused to comment on the issue till late on Wednesday.