Suri, Sept 04: An armed man who took four patients hostage at a hospital here in Birbhum district on yesterday night, strapping bombs to the bodies of three and holding a pistol to the head of another, surrendered before the Inspector General of Police today morning, the police said. The gunman named himself as Tiger. He demanded to speak to the Birbhum district Superintendent of Police (SP) and a local Trinamul Congress leader.


The man entered the male ward at 8.15 pm and set off a bomb which, however, did not cause much damage. He then took six persons hostage, including a woman, but later freed her and another man.



He also wanted to forcibly take away one of his hostages, Haradhan Mandal, on whom he was holding his gun, but could not do so.

This particular hostage was admitted to the hospital on August 30 with gunshot and bomb splinter injuries he suffered in an attack on him and a Congress worker Sadananda Layek, who was also admitted in the same ward.


The gunman who was carrying a bag suspected to be holding more bombs appeared at a window of the ward and shouted to reporters that he wanted to speak to the SP, Akhil Kumar Roy and a local Trinamul leader.


Roy has already reached at the hospital and is negotiating with the gunman.

The woman, who was freed by the gunman, told reporters that the hostage taker was alone. The gunman who refused to identify himself, however, had not harmed the Congress worker, Sadananda Layek, who could be seen by reporters standing fearfully near the toilet.


Layek and Mandal were injured after being attacked at the Panchra bus stop in Khairasole area on August 30.


The gunman had initially demanded to speak to the officer in charge of the local police station but changed his mind and sought to speak to the SP.

Bureau Report