A suspected firing at the office of the district land and land reforms office (DL & LRO) in Jalpaiguri, followed by a threat to the officer in his chamber by two unidentified persons earlier this week has prompted police to start an investigation.

Sources said that on Monday, a sweeper noticed what looked like bullet marks on a glass window and a cupboard in the establishment section of the office. As the news spread, police were informed who reached the spot and started an investigation.

They spoke with employees who said they had not heard gunshots. No cartridge was retrieved from the room where the holes were noticed.

“During preliminary probe, it was found that if a gunshot has to be fired at this room, someone has to reach a veranda of an office of the state forest department next to this building of the DL and LRO. The employees and the policemen at the nearby camp have not heard any sound. Now, we have called ballistic experts from Calcutta for a probe. They will reach here on Friday,” said a police officer.

On Tuesday, DL & LRO Ranjan Chakraborty, who works in the rank of an additional district magistrate, was seated in his chamber when two persons entered and threatened him.

“I don’t know them. They got into my chamber and said I should provide ‘patta’ (secured land tenure) to some residents in the district. As I refused, they threatened me with dire consequences and left the place. I was too surprised to react,” said Chakraborty.

Later, Chakraborty filed a complaint with Kotwali police. As police reached his office, they found the CCTV cameras installed there were defunct.

“We couldn’t get the CCTV footage as the cameras were not working. Our officers are trying to identify the persons who threatened the Dl & LRO,” the police officer added.