Video sparks assault, TMC factions clash; violence spills over to MCH
Times of India | 10 March 2025
Kolkata: A violent clash erupted between two Trinamool factions on Colootola Street on Saturday night, spilling over to Calcutta Medical College and Hospital and scaring away those who arrived with emergency patients or were staying there overnight. The incident led to the arrest of four individuals.
According to Sharikh Aman, a local functionary of a Trinamool hawkers' union, he was surrounded by over 100 youths when he was conversing with an acquaintance near his residence. The group then physically assaulted Aman. A video of the attack has since gone viral on social media, further intensifying political tensions in the area.
Locals said Aman had recently posted a video on social media accusing Irfan Ai Taj — the husband of the ward 43 councillor Ayesha Kaniz — of engaging in illegal activities and supporting syndicate operations. Following the post, he allegedly received multiple threat calls over several days, pressuring him to delete the video. His refusal to comply reportedly led to the assault on Saturday, locals said.
Aman was injured and taken to Kolkata Medical College and Hospital. However, tensions escalated when members of both factions clashed once again at the hospital. The situation became so volatile that the hospital's emergency department doors had to be temporarily shut. A large team from Bowbazar PS was deployed to bring the situation under control.
"It was a premeditated assault," Aman told reporters. He subsequently filed a formal complaint at Bowbazar PS. A Kolkata Police officer said four men who were seen in videos and CCTV footage leading the assault on Colootola Street and the hospital were arrested. "A search is on to nab the other accused," said the officer.
Taj claimed all allegations were fake, saying: "I learned there was trouble and went to the hospital to check on the issue. Neither I nor my men were involved in the incident."
A hospital official said wh-ile no admission was hamper-ed because of the trouble, there was a major scare for a few moments. "We have asked local cops for more deployment on the premises," he said.