Howrah: Two bartenders and two police constables were injured in a late-night brawl over allegations of extortion at a bar near Howrah station on Sunday. Trinamool functionary Tinku Sonkar, accused of the attacks, was arrested.
Police said the altercation started with extortion charges involving Sonkar. What began as an argument soon escalated into a fight with Sonkar and his associates reportedly smashing liquor bottles on the heads of two bartenders, who had to be hospitalised. A team from the Golabari police station arrived but two of the constables were also reportedly assaulted. As other employees of the bar protested, even they were attacked, said police, adding that the fight spilled onto the street outside.
But North Howrah Trinamool MLA Gautam Chowdhury defended Sonkar, calling the allegations unfounded. He claimed the fight stemmed from a dispute between the bar employees and a promoter's group abd that Sonkar was merely attempting to de-escalate the situation.