In a disturbing act of violence, a 19-year-old girl named Ishita Mallik was shot and killed inside her own residence on Monday afternoon in Krishnagar, West Bengal. The incident unfolded in a residential area just opposite Krishnagar Women’s College, known for its proximity to high-security establishments such as the Circuit House and the District Magistrate’s residence.

According to initial findings by the police, the suspected shooter is Debraj Singh, aged 23, a resident of Kanchrapara in North 24 Parganas. Singh and the victim had reportedly developed a relationship in 2023 while studying in Kanchrapara. However, the relationship had recently ended after Ishita chose to distance herself from him.

Teen Shot Dead Alone at Home

Police believe the accused entered the girl’s house when she was alone and shot her at point-blank range. A local resident who was nearby when the incident occurred said, “She had just been admitted to college. Nobody was at home. Her father had gone to the office, and her mother had gone to pick up her son from school. A man entered the house suddenly and killed her. One round was fired. Only one man was there at the house. We were at a distance. We rushed to the spot after hearing the shot.”

After the attack, Ishita was taken to Shaktinagar District Hospital, where doctors declared her dead on arrival. Law enforcement officials stated that her body had two visible bullet wounds. “The victim’s body bore two bullet injuries. The body has been sent for post-mortem. The accused is absconding, and a search is on,” confirmed K. Amarnath, Superintendent of Police of the Krishnagar Police District.

Police suspect that the killing was motivated by personal reasons stemming from the breakdown of the relationship. Investigators revealed that the two had been in contact until last year, but Ishita had recently stopped all communication with Singh. They also noted that she had secured admission to Victoria College in 2023 but deferred her enrollment to focus on preparing for the NEET exam, as she aspired to study medicine.

Post-Mortem to Confirm Bullet Count

A full post-mortem report is awaited to establish the exact number of bullets fired and aid in forensic examination. While witnesses mentioned hearing a single shot, authorities are relying on medical findings for confirmation.

Condemning the killing, Trinamool Congress General Secretary Kunal Ghosh stated, “This is a tragic incident with no political connection. Still, we want the truth to come out, and the police should take firm action to curb such social crimes.”

The accused remains at large, and police have launched a manhunt to trace his location. The incident has sparked serious concern in the area, not just due to the brutal nature of the crime, but also because it occurred in a zone considered to be under tight security.