A youth from Lankapara on the India-Bhutan border of Alipurduar district, who is one of the accused in an earlier murder, was allegedly shot at on Monday night.

Birpara police arrested the shooter on Tuesday night and also recovered a firearm.

The victim, Sangam Thapa, is under treatment at the North Bengal Medical College and Hospital in Siliguri.

Sources said that Thapa had an altercation with alleged shooter Dikman Rai on Monday.

Allegedly, Rai whipped out a firearm and shot at Thapa on his chest. Bystanders rushed Thapa to a local hospital from where he was later referred to the NBMCH.

Over the past few months, a number of crimes have been reported in Lankapara as gangs run syndicates involved in illegal mining of minor minerals like sand, stones and pebbles.

Bokey Lama, a local contractor and the brother-in-law of Sanjay Lama, Trinamul president of Birpara block, was killed last year in one such gang war. Thapa, who was shot at on Monday, is one of the accused in that murder. He was out on bail.

Police have set up a camp in Lankapara but gang wars seem to continue in the area.

After Monday’s incident, police started a probe and raided Rai’s house on Tuesday night. A firearm was recovered and Rai was arrested.

“Our men are patrolling in the area. Investigations have started,” said a senior police officer.