Raja Dutta shot dead near Belghoria Expressway, five detained in Kolkata
Synopsis
Notorious criminal Raja Dutta was ambushed and shot dead near the Belghoria Expressway in North Dum Dum in the early hours of Monday — his firearm allegedly snatched before he was killed at close range. With five detained and two associates fighting for their lives, Kolkata Police are treating this as a premeditated gang hit, raising fresh questions about organised crime in the North 24 Parganas corridor.
Key Takeaways
Raja Dutta , a notorious criminal from Birati, North 24 Parganas , was shot dead near the Belghoria Expressway in North Dum Dum on 13 July .
Five individuals have been detained for questioning; no formal arrests have been made.
Two of Dutta's associates were also injured in the attack and are in critical condition at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital .
Police suspect Dutta's firearm was snatched before he was shot at close range, pointing to a premeditated gang attack .
Deputy Commissioner Samir Ahmad of the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate visited the crime scene as the investigation gathered pace.
CCTV footage from the area is being examined to identify the assailants and reconstruct the sequence of events.
Notorious criminal Raja Dutta was killed in a suspected gang shootout in the early hours of Monday, 13 July, near the Belghoria Expressway in North Dum Dum, Kolkata, police confirmed. Five individuals have been detained for questioning in connection with the incident; no formal arrests have been made so far.
How the incident unfolded
According to police sources, Dutta — a resident of Birati in North 24 Parganas district — was travelling on his motorcycle along the Belghoria Expressway when he allegedly encountered a rival group. Investigators suspect the attackers were already positioned in the area and may have been waiting for his arrival.
Police believe Dutta was carrying a firearm at the time. Investigators suspect the weapon was snatched before he was shot at close range. His bullet-riddled body was found on the roadside near the expressway. He was rushed to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where doctors declared him dead. Two associates, also injured in the attack, are undergoing treatment and are stated to be in critical condition.
Investigation under way
Officers from Dum Dum Police Station reached the spot after receiving information about the firing and shifted the injured to hospital. Police have begun examining CCTV footage from the area to identify those involved and reconstruct the sequence of events. Preliminary investigations suggest the killing was linked to a gang rivalry, though the motive and the exact nature of the dispute are yet to be established.
Efforts are also under way to trace the route used by the assailants to flee the scene. Police said Dutta had a long history of involvement in criminal activities and are probing whether the incident was connected to previous disputes.
Senior officers at the scene
Senior officers, including Samir Ahmad, Deputy Commissioner (South) of the Barrackpore Police Commissionerate, visited the crime scene as the investigation gathered pace. The commissionerate has not yet issued a formal statement on the motive or the identity of the suspected attackers.
What comes next
Investigators are expected to question the five detainees to establish the chain of events and identify the assailants. The condition of Dutta's two injured associates, currently critical, may also yield key leads. Police have not ruled out connections to older gang disputes in the North 24 Parganas region.
Point of View
A snatched weapon, and shots fired at close range. What this incident underscores is the persistence of organised criminal networks along the North 24 Parganas corridor, an area that has seen recurring gang violence tied to land disputes and local extortion rackets. The detention of five individuals without arrests suggests police are still mapping the network, not just the trigger-puller. The critical condition of two witnesses who survived the attack could prove decisive — or dangerous, if the rival group moves to silence them.
NationPress
13 Jul 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Raja Dutta and why was he considered notorious?
Raja Dutta was a criminal from Birati in North 24 Parganas district with a long history of involvement in criminal activities, according to police. Investigators are probing whether his killing was linked to previous disputes with rival groups in the region.
Where and when did the shooting take place?
The shooting took place in the early hours of Monday, 13 July, near the Belghoria Expressway in North Dum Dum, Kolkata. Officers from Dum Dum Police Station reached the spot after receiving information about the firing.
Have any arrests been made in the Raja Dutta shooting case?
No formal arrests have been made so far. Five individuals have been detained for questioning. Police are examining CCTV footage and tracing the route used by the assailants to flee the scene.
What is the suspected motive behind the killing?
Preliminary investigations suggest the killing was linked to a gang rivalry, according to police. Investigators suspect the attackers were known to Dutta and may have been waiting for his arrival, indicating a premeditated attack.
What is the condition of the others injured in the Belghoria Expressway shootout?
Two of Dutta's associates who were injured in the incident are undergoing treatment and are stated to be in critical condition. Both were shifted to RG Kar Medical College and Hospital following the attack.
