Suri (WB): The hostage drama in Sadar Hospital, Suri in West Bengal, came to an end on September 4 morning with the gunman surrendering, but not before killing one.

The gunman, who identified himself as 'Tiger Singh', was injured in an exchange of fire on September 3 night and surrendered at 7.35 am (IST), police sources said.

Deputy inspector general (DIG) Narayan Ghosh said the gunman identified as Hurai, shot dead one of his hostages, Sadananda Layek.

The DIG said Hurai, a resident of Dubrajpur in the district, was a history-sheeter.

The gunman had initially demanded to speak to Sailen Mahato, a local Trinamool leader of Dubrajpur.

The National Security Guard (NSG) was on stand by to secure the release of the hostages.

He was holding hostage three patients at the government hospital ward, where he entered on September 3 night.

As demanded by him, the district superintendent of police negotiated with him throughout the night in an effort to persuade him to release his hostages and give himself up. He had strapped bombs on three of his hostages while a fourth managed to escape.

There were also another three patients inside the ward.

He demanded that he be provided with a Tata Sumo in which he would take his hostages to Asansol in neighbouring Bardhaman district where he would free them. A policeman was also to accompany him in the vehicle for his personal security.

Policemen then fired a few rounds targeting the gunman, who immediate fired back. The sources said he was keeping the hostages close to him and bound their hands behind their backs thwarting efforts to target him.

PTI