Club vandalised, members assaulted after protest against drinking, harassing women
Times of India | 4 November 2024
12 Kolkata: A group of miscreants, allegedly backed by a promoter, ransacked a club at Baghajatin and assaulted its members with iron rods and bottles in the early hours of Sunday. This happened after the club members protested against the promoter and his men drinking openly in the neighbourhood and harassing women.
The residents of Vidyasagar Colony, where the incident took place, said they dialled 100, but there was no help. They blamed an officer of Netaji Nagar PS, who asked them to go to the police station to report the issue. When they went, it allegedly took several hours to lodge an FIR. Police, however, denied the allegations and said they already started an investigation and three were arrested. However, the main accused was yet to be arrested.
Club members claimed the promoter and his associates were drinking publicly in the neighbourhood even on Saturday when some members of Rudraksha Evergreen Club opposed it. Following this, the attack occurred late in the night.
"After distributing offerings for Kali Puja on Saturday night, we were sitting inside the club. At that time, a large group of 50-60 miscreants attacked us. They attacked with rods and wickets and threw beer bottles," said Biswajit Saha, a club member, who was allegedly slashed with a broken beer bottle and suffered injuries on his hands and spine.
At the scene, chairs and fans were found broken. The floor was stained with blood, and local residents were terrified. A fan was broken, and a TV set was taken away.
Club members claimed the miscreants even planned to lock the club doors and set it on fire. "They tried to kill us. The promoter's wife was also with him. Most of the people were intoxicated. They threatened to set the club on fire. We barely escaped," said another club member.
Another woman said: "These men regularly drink in the area and cause a nuisance. We feel scared. Initially, the police were also reluctant to file a complaint. We had to go to the police station to call the police."
Local MLA Debabrata Majumdar and local councillor Mitali Banerjee faced public wrath after reaching the area. The locals blamed them for backing the goons. They, however, denied any association of the miscreants with their party.
"Earlier, we had dismantled a structure after receiving complaints about public drinking. But this time, I was not informed," said Banerjee.
MLA Majumdar said, "No miscreant will be spared. The administration has been asked to take strict action." TOI tried to contact the promoter named in the FIR but his phone was switched off.