Drunk civic volunteer held for forced entry into woman’s house
Times of India | 11 November 2024
Kolkata: A civic volunteer of Entally police station was arrested for allegedly forcing his way into the home of a young woman in a drunken state and apparently approaching her bed while she was asleep before her mother woke up and raised an alarm early on Sunday.
The CV, Santosh Lal Prasad, who was in his shorts and a vest, allegedly fled the spot at Shambhu Babu Lane in Entally and went back to his home in the same locality. Later in the morning, a large crowd demonstrated in the area, and many other women complained that Prasad tormented them as well in the past. He was arrested after the girl's father lodged a complaint with Entally police station. He was produced before a Sealdah court later in the afternoon, where he was granted bail on a personal bond. Departmental proceedings, however, have begun against him.
"Immediately upon receipt of the complaint, we arrested the man. We have started an investigationand have also begun departmental proceedings against him," said a senior Kolkata Police officer.
A senior cop said Prasad was booked under BNS sections 78 (1) for stalking and 331 (1) for house trespassing. Both sections being bailable, he was granted bail. He was seen hurriedly getting inside the backseat of a car while wearing a helmet on his head as he came out of the court in the evening.
TOI spoke to the family of the girl – who works at a multinational company – as they said they were still scared and were worried about the girl's safety upon learning that the man was already out on bail.
"My husband works as a newspaper vendor and he left home around 4 am on Sunday. The door was not bolted from inside. Around 4.30 am I heard some footsteps and crockery rattling. I woke up and saw the man staring at my daughter, and I got scared. I screamed as the man went out in a hurry," said the girl's mother.
The mother said she could identify the man as he lived in the same locality and was a known harasser. "My daughter and I even attended multiple Justice for Abhaya rallies. But now that we ourselves are victims, we feel scared. The authorities should take appropriate action against him and ensure us protection against him," she said.
TOI also spoke to other neighbours as many claimed themselves to be survivors of the man's harassment. "On the evening of cyclone Dana, I was standing outside my house. Suddenly Prasad, who was walking past our alley, groped me. He smelt of liquor, and as I tried to scream, he gagged me. I somehow bit him and ran inside to call my family. By that time, he fled. I, however, didn't lodge a police complaint out of shame," said another young woman who lives in the same area.
Neighbours and other locals claimed the man was a known rogue and used to torment women and others in the locality and flaunted his proximity with a local politician. "The politician always used his contacts to get him out of trouble and also stop the victims from lodging a complaint. However, things went out of control on Sunday, and we all protested, leading to his arrest," said another local resident.
Local councillor of ward 55, Sabita Rani Das, however, dismissed claims of Prasad being associated with the party. "We have also heard that he made claims about being a party worker, but he is no one. The moment we learnt about his deeds, I asked the local police station to immediately arrest him. I have also instructed the party workers in the locality not to help him in any manner," said Das.