Woman assaulted for feeding strays in Salt Lake complex
Times of India | 10 February 2025
123 Kolkata: A middle-aged woman feeding strays inside a govt housing complex at EB Block in Salt Lake was allegedly assaulted by some residents on Saturday night. They alleged that she was polluting the area and ‘provoking' the dogs to bite kids, who play on the complex premises.
Officers of Bidhannagar North PS reached the complex at night as both parties lodged complaints. None has been arrested so far.
According to complainant Benu Aatha, she had been feeding home-cooked food to strays in the area for several years. She feeds about 250 stray dogs in Salt Lake.
However, some residents of the CPWD complex did not approve of his care for these dogs. She alleged that there had been threats at various times and that the dogs were also being beaten. "While I was feeding the dogs on Saturday, around 25 people from the complex stopped me. They insisted that the dogs should not be fed. After a brief argument, the accused became aggressive. My mobile was snatched and smashed. The scooter on which I carry the food was also broken. I had to run out of the complex to save myself as I saw them mercilessly beating the dogs with sticks and rods," she alleged.
A few young men and an elderly person from the area tried to protect the woman. But they, too, were allegedly thrashed and abused by some residents.
Anirban Dhara, a youth who had tried to protect the woman, said some of the men were too aggressive and when he tried to save her, he too was chased away.
A senior citizen on request of anonymity said: "The woman was asked to offer food at a particular location but she used to litter everywhere. While she was feeding them, a dog chased a child who fell on the ground and was injured. This angered some residents. The woman then called her friends from Maniktala who entered the complex after which a commotion followed."