Kolkata: The death of a man in his mid-40s, who had reportedly attended a Durga Puja committee meeting, has triggered controversy at Barrackpore in North 24 Parganas on Monday. Though police claimed it to be an accident, the victim’s family alleged that he was thrashed to death by a rival faction of the committee, led by the local councilor.
After collecting a CCTV footage, police, however, suspect that the deceased — Partha Chowdhury — collapsed on a drain as he alighted from a rickshaw after the meeting.“We have already initiated an unnatural death case in this connection. We are also waiting for the autopsy report ,” a senior officer of the Barrackpore commissionerate said.
According to locals, the trouble broke out on Sunday evening while the formation of a new puja committee was underway at Odisi Club off Old Calcutta Road at Ward number 12 under Barrackpore Municipality.
The family members of Chowdhury — who are also the club members — however, alleged that local councilor, Mousumi Mukherjee, and her associates created ruckus at the meeting to take control of the committee. “While my husband had protested, the associates of the councilor beat him up mercilessly in the presence of the councilor. Later, my husband collapsed on the road,” said Smita Chowdhury, the victim’s wife.
Chowd hury was taken to Barrackpore BN Bose Subdivisional Hospital, where he was declared brought dead. The councilor has rubbished the allegations.