Assault by cracker goons, molest plaints mar Kolkata's festive weekend
Times of India | 5 November 2024
KOLKATA: Multiple cases of clashes, assaults over bursting of firecrackers and molestations were reported from across the city on Sunday that marked the end of a chaotic and very noisy Kali Puja and Diwali week. At least 10 persons, including a woman who was molested, faced the wrath of goons during immersions.
At Entally's Ananda Palit Road, security supervisor Sayan Kundu and his elderly father were assaulted thrice by about 20 revellers after they asked them not to burst crackers outside their home since Sayan's mother was a COPD and hypertension patient.
They alleged police tried to downplay the incident and initially suggested that they reach a compromise with the revellers. Police, however, refuted these allegations. Two persons have been arrested in the case so far.
In Azadgarh, a middle-aged man was attacked by local club members after he asked them not to burst crackers near his home as his elderly uncle was a terminally ill cancer patient. His uncle passed away on Monday morning.
A case has been filed following a complaint to the deputy commissioner of the area. The local club members, too, have filed a counter-complaint, alleging aggressive behaviour by the man. No arrests have been made in the case yet.
In Cossipore, a woman attending an immersion procession was injured after a few men misbehaved with her and allegedly threw firecrackers at her. Six persons were arrested in this case.
Two others were arrested for allegedly molesting a woman and beating up her husband outside a puja pandal in Lake Town. The arrested men, however, denied molesting the woman.
Also in Lake Town, two policemen and two civic volunteers were beaten up while trying to separate two groups of Kali Puja organisers. Cops said the brawl started over who would immerse their idol first and the club members started hurling crackers at each other.