A 30-year-old man remains in a critical condition in hospital after being shot by unidentified masked assailants near a temple in the Mohanganj area of Netrokona district. The victim, Sujan Chandra Paul, was ambushed in the early hours of Sunday, 18 October, sending shockwaves through the local community in the Mailora neighbourhood of the municipal town.
The incident occurred at approximately 05:30 BST near the Ramakrishna Temple. According to local witnesses and family members, Mr Paul was targeted without warning by masked perpetrators who immediately fled the scene after discharging their firearm. Local residents rushed to the spot upon hearing the gunshot and swiftly arranged for his emergency transportation to Mymensingh Medical College Hospital, a tertiary healthcare centre serving the wider regional division.
Surgeons at the hospital successfully conducted an emergency procedure to extract a bullet embedded in Mr Paul’s chest. Despite the surgical intervention, his medical status remains precarious. Speaking from the facility, his wife, Tumpa Rani Paul, confirmed that her husband is enduring severe physical distress as medical staff continue to administer intensive pharmaceutical treatment.
Following the attack, high-ranking administrative and law enforcement officials visited the crime scene to assess the situation and reassure local residents. Upazila Nirbahi Officer (UNO) Amena Khatun, alongside Additional Superintendent of Police (Barhatta Circle) Sabbir Hasan and Mohanganj Police Station Officer-in-Charge (OC) Md Hafizul Islam Harun, inspected the area and ordered a thorough investigation into the breach of public safety.
Two days after the assault, official legal proceedings commenced at the local police station. On Tuesday evening, 20 October, Tumpa Rani Paul formally lodged a criminal case against unidentified individuals. Law enforcement authorities confirmed that specialized units have been deployed to gather intelligence, ascertain the motive behind the targeted shooting, and trace the perpetrators. No arrests have been made so far, but operations remain ongoing across the upazila to apprehend those responsible.
