‘Not invited’ to puja, drunk goons molest women, wield firearms
Times of India | 4 September 2024
Kolkata: Locals from a neighbourhood in Behala alleged that a group of firearm-wielding inebriated goons allegedly assaulted them and molested a few women by disrobing them while trying to extort money for not receiving an invitation to the local Kali Puja.
The incident was reported by a 36-year-old woman from the Senhati Market area in Behala under ward 120 in the Behala police station area.
“A case under BNS sections 126(2), 115(2), 75, 76, 351(2), 351(2), 79 and 3(5) has been registered. It was indexed on the basis of a written complaint submitted by a 36-year-old woman against at least nine persons identified as Bhaskar Sen, Jayanta, Pralay, Chotu, Rahul, Subhojit Das, Babu, Rishav, Sunny and others. The FIR was lodged around 1 am after the accused wrongfully restrained the complainant and her family members. The goons then physically assaulted them and sexually harassed her and the other women present there. The accused allegedly disrobed the women and inappropriately touched them. It is also alleged that the miscreants threatened them with dire consequences,” said DC (Behala) Rahul De. He added that all the accused will be arrested as soon as possible.
So far, Bhaskar Sen, the main accused, and Palash Roy, another miscreant, have been arrested in this regard. Seven others who are involved in the incident are on the run.
“The locals were hosting a Kali Puja in the area on the occasion of ‘Kaushiki Amavasya’, when group of young men, in an inebriated state, started a ruckus in front of the house where the puja was being held in the late hours of the night. Since they were not invited to the Kali Puja, they demanded money from the hosts. During the incident, several local young men and women were present. When we refused to give in to their demands, a local rough named Bhaskar and his associates beat up our family members, molested them and then fled from the spot,” alleged Santanu Das, a local resident.
Witnesses claimed that Bhaskar, later, returned to the area in the morning and allegedly threatened people with firearms.
“A complaint has already been filed at the Behala police station. The women in our locality are in shock after the incident. Cops have promised that they will arrest the accused by Tuesday. If not, we will seek justice from the police on Wednesday,” added Das.