Kolkata/Howrah: A routine dinner turned into a scene of terror in Howrah’s Salkia on Tuesday night, when a heated argument between three men escalated into a shooting, leaving a young man narrowly escaping death.

The incident unfolded around 11 pm near Salkia crossing under the Golabari police station limits.

According to police sources, Rahul Pal was dining at a local restaurant with Akash Yadav and Vicky Dolui when a sudden and intense argument broke out between them.

What triggered the confrontation remains unclear, but witnesses described the exchange as “aggressive” and “out of control.” Moments later, the situation took a deadly turn.

As the trio stepped out of the restaurant, Akash allegedly pulled out a revolver from his pocket and fired at Rahul at close range. In a stroke of luck, the bullet missed its target, allowing Rahul to escape with his life.

The gunshot shattered the night’s calm, sending shockwaves through the crowded locality as terrified bystanders scrambled for safety.

Panic gripped the area as the sound of gunfire echoed through the streets. Police from Golabari station, along with officers from the Howrah City Police detective department, rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. 

Both Akash and Vicky were swiftly detained and are currently being interrogated. Investigators are still trying to piece together the motive behind the attempted shooting.

Preliminary findings suggest that an old rivalry may have fueled the violent outburst, turning a verbal dispute into an attempted murder.

Police are now focusing on recovering the firearm and tracing its origin. Questions are also being raised about how the accused managed to access a revolver so easily.

The incident has once again spotlighted concerns over public safety in Howrah. Just weeks ago, a promoter was shot dead in broad daylight in the Pilkhana area under the same police station jurisdiction.

While arrests were made in that case, Tuesday night’s incident has reignited fears over recurring gun violence in the region.

As investigations continue, residents are left shaken, wondering how a simple night out could so quickly descend into near-fatal violence.