Jharkhand Actress Shot Dead While Trying To Thwart Highway Robbery Bid In Bengal: Police

The incident happened when Riya Kumari, her husband Prakash Kumar, a film producer, were heading to Kolkata via the National Highway 16 by car.

An actress from Jharkhand was shot dead by a gang of three men in Howrah

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An actress from Jharkhand, Riya Kumari, was shot dead by a gang of three men after she allegedly tried to thwart a robbery attempt in West Bengal's Howrah district on Wednesday, PTI reported. The incident happened when Riya Kumari, her husband Prakash Kumar, a film producer, and their two-year-old daughter were heading to Kolkata via the National Highway 16 by car, police said.

The car was being driven by Prakash Kumar. At 6 am, Kumar stopped the vehicle near Mahishrekha, which falls under Bagnan police station limits, to relieve himself. 

Soon, a gang of three men attacked him and tried to rob his belongings. Riya Kumari then rushed to help her husband. One of the robbers opend fire and shot dead the actor before fleeing the spot, PTI quoted police as saying.

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After the incident, Kumar took his wife to the vehicle and drove about three km in search of help. He saw some people along the highway in Kulgachia-Pirtala after which the locals helped Kumar take his wife to the SCC Medical College and Hospital in Uluberia. In the hospital, the doctors declared her brought dead, police said.

Kumar said the men apparently conversed in Bengali, which they did not understand. Speaking to reporters, Kumar did not rule out enimity. He said he had no idea why they could be attacked and assumed the killers to be tourists.

Police have launched an investigation into the incident and is also questioning the husband. The car has been seized for forensic examination, PTI reported.

"We have spoken to the husband, and since the daughter is too young we may talk to her later as we do not want to cause her more trouble. We will also speak to the locals whom the man approached for help," a police officer said.