Asansol school guard shot twice while fighting off armed robbers on NH-19
Synopsis
A night guard travelling to work on National Highway 19 in Asansol refused to yield to armed robbers — and paid with two bullets to the leg. Haridas Layek's act of resistance is now driving a major police search operation, with senior officials on the ground and CCTV footage under scrutiny.
Key Takeaways
Haridas Layek , a night guard at Srihari Global School in Asansol , was shot twice in the leg on Saturday night, 13 September .
The attack occurred on a deserted stretch of National Highway 19 in West Burdwan district , West Bengal .
Masked robbers opened fire after Layek resisted their robbery attempt, firing two rounds before fleeing.
He underwent emergency surgery at Asansol District Hospital and is currently in a stable condition .
Police recovered an empty cartridge casing from the scene; CCTV footage is being examined and 'naka' checks are underway.
Senior officials including Police Commissioner Pranab Kumar visited the scene; no arrests have been made yet.
A night guard at a private school in Asansol, West Bengal, was shot twice in the leg by masked robbers after he resisted their attempt to rob him on National Highway 19 late on Saturday night, police confirmed on Sunday, 13 September. The injured guard, identified as Haridas Layek, underwent emergency surgery and is currently in a stable condition at Asansol District Hospital.
How the Attack Unfolded
Haridas Layek, a night guard at Srihari Global School in Asansol in West Burdwan district, was travelling to work on his motorcycle from his home in Dhaguri village under the Alladi Panchayat in the Salanpur area — his routine every night. While riding along National Highway 19, a group of masked men intercepted him on a deserted stretch of road under cover of darkness.
After forcing him to halt, the robbers brandished weapons and demanded his valuables. When Layek resisted, the attackers fired two rounds in quick succession, striking him in the leg. Despite the injuries, he continued to fight back, and the robbers eventually abandoned him on the road and fled the scene.
Rescue and Medical Treatment
Officers from Salanpur Police Station arrived at the scene after receiving information about the attack. Layek was found in a bloodied state on the road and immediately transported to Asansol District Hospital, where surgeons operated on his injured leg the same night. Doctors have since described his condition as stable.
Police Response and Investigation
On Sunday morning, officers recovered an empty cartridge casing from the scene, providing a crucial piece of forensic evidence. A search operation is currently underway to locate the perpetrators, with 'naka' checkpoints set up across the area to intercept the suspects. Investigators are also examining CCTV footage from the vicinity in a bid to identify the masked assailants.
Senior police officials visited the site of the incident, including Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissioner Pranab Kumar, DC (West) Sana Akhtar, and DC (Central) Dhruba Das. The high-level visit underscores the seriousness with which authorities are treating the case. The incident has reportedly sparked widespread panic among residents in the area, particularly given the deserted nature of the stretch where the attack took place.
Broader Context
The shooting highlights ongoing concerns about the safety of night-shift workers commuting alone on isolated stretches of national highways in the region. This is the latest in a series of highway robbery incidents in West Burdwan district, with late-night travellers remaining particularly vulnerable. Authorities have not yet made any arrests in connection with the case, and the investigation is ongoing.
Point of View
Well-monitored national artery. The fact that a lone night-shift worker on a motorcycle could be ambushed by a group of masked, armed men on NH-19 and left bleeding on the road raises questions about patrol density and inter-agency coordination after dark. Senior officers visiting the scene is symbolically important, but the test is whether the 'naka' checks and CCTV review yield arrests before panic calcifies into a security paralysis that affects other night-shift workers in the district.
NationPress
13 Sept 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is Haridas Layek and what happened to him?
Haridas Layek is a night guard employed at Srihari Global School in Asansol, West Bengal. On Saturday night, he was intercepted by masked robbers on National Highway 19, shot twice in the leg after resisting the robbery, and subsequently taken to Asansol District Hospital where he underwent surgery and is now in a stable condition.
Where exactly did the shooting take place?
The attack occurred on a deserted stretch of National Highway 19 in the Salanpur area of West Burdwan district, West Bengal. Layek was riding his motorcycle from his home in Dhaguri village when the armed group forced him to stop.
What steps has the police taken after the shooting?
Officers from Salanpur Police Station responded to the scene, and a search operation is underway. Police have set up 'naka' checkpoints across the area, recovered an empty cartridge casing, and are examining CCTV footage from nearby locations to identify the suspects. Senior officials including Police Commissioner Pranab Kumar have visited the site.
Have any arrests been made in connection with the Asansol highway shooting?
As of Sunday, 13 September, no arrests have been reported. The robbers fled the scene after the shooting, and investigators are relying on CCTV footage and forensic evidence — including a recovered cartridge casing — to track them down.
What is the condition of Haridas Layek after the attack?
Layek's condition is described as stable after emergency surgery on his leg at Asansol District Hospital. Doctors operated on him the same night as the attack, and he is currently recovering.
