Kolkata: A 20-year-old woman, Riya Bachar (left), a new mother who was estranged from her husband since last year, and her parents were grievously injured inside their residence in the BG Press area of Behala early on Saturday morning. Koushik Bachar (above), the accused, had climbed up a pipe and entered their home around 6am in a dramatic fashion before attacking the victims with a chopper.
While Riya received injuries on her neck and arms, her parents, Basudeb Malik (45) and Dipali Malik (39), were admitted to Vidyasagar Hospital with multiple injuries, before being shifted to SSKM Hospital. Koushik has been arrested under attempt to murder, dowry harassment and criminal trespassing charges.
A driver, Koushik got married to Riya in 2022, but they separated last year. Riya told TOI over phone that Koushik had used the drain pipe to climb up to the terrace of their under-construction house. Finding the door to the terrace missing, he made his way down into the house. Shocked, Riya asked Koushik why he was there and an argument ensued. “As my parents tried to intervene, he started attacking me and my parents. We cried for help and neighbours rushed out. Though a few of my neighbours received minor injuries, they managed to overpower Koushik,” said Riya. Police were informed around 8am and the victims rushed to Vidyasagar Hospital.
Koushik, said cops, wanted to ensure that the couple’s only child, born last year in Nov, stayed with him, so that Riya too returned with him to her in-law’s residence.
According to Riya and Gaur Naskar, the Maliks’ next door neighbour, Koushik, a resident of Maheshtala, had left home before daybreak and had reached Riya’s parental residence around 5.30 am. “Riya was in class IX when they fell in love. They had eloped and got married. However, Koushik misbehaved with Riya often and tortured her. She had come to her Behala home last year during Jamai Sasthi and did not return,” said Naskar.
“The accused, Koushik Bachar has been arrested and the assault weapon, a 12-inch iron knife, has been seized,” said DC (Behala) Saumya Roy.