A youth allegedly tried to gun down Trinamul Congress councillor Susanta Ghosh in front of his Kasba home on Friday evening.

The youth failed to carry out his job as the gun malfunctioned, police said.

Ghosh and his acquaintances managed to catch the youth and handed him over to the police.

The firearm used was found on him, the police said.

Residents who saw the attack said the consequence could have been fatal had the gun not malfunctioned.

A CCTV footage that purported captured the incident showed two men on a scooter halting in front of a pavement where three persons, including Ghosh, were sitting.

The pillion rider, wearing a helmet, alighted from the two-wheeler, took out a gun and walked towards where Ghosh was sitting.

He brandished the gun and went closer to Ghosh, apparently trying to shoot him from a close range.

The next moment, Ghosh and his acquaintances are seen rising from their chairs and chasing the youth who ran towards the scooter.

He managed to jump onto the vehicle but was pulled down from behind by one of Ghosh’s acquaintances. He was back on the road. He was captured and handed over to the police.

Police said the youth is a minor from Bihar’s Vaishali district, the police said.

An improvised 9mm pistol has been seized from him, the police said.

A search has been launched for the other person riding the scooter.

The incident happened not far from Acropolis Mall off Rajdanga Main Road.

“I was sitting in front of my home like other days. I saw a youth walking towards me. Initially, I did not notice him. I saw him take out a gun tucked under his belt and brandish it at me,” Ghosh, the counicllor of Ward 108 of the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, recalled.

The youth tried to pull the trigger but the gun did not fire as it was locked, he said.

“What I learned is that someone showed him my photograph and asked him to shoot me,” Ghosh added.

Senior officers of the south suburban division and the detective department went to the spot later on Friday night.

“We got a call from the councillor about the attack and that one of the attackers was caught,” said an officer.

Trinamul Congress activists blocked Rajdanga Main Road protesting the attack on Ghosh.