Promoter, goons thrash 62-yr-old for ‘illegal’ building complaint
Times of India | 10 April 2025
Kolkata: A 62-year-old retired private company employee and social worker, Bijoy Neogi, claimed that he was assaulted by a local promoter and his goons early on Wednesday after he opposed the construction of an "illegal" building in his locality. Before launching the attack, the promoter reportedly told him that it was due to Neogi and his friends that the building was facing a demolition threat. The promoter, however, denied all allegations.
Neogi is a resident of 9 Gobinda Banerjee Lane in the Charu Market area. The alleged illegal construction was being carried out at 8 Gobinda Banerjee Lane. The KMC buildings department has confirmed that they had been planning action on the "illegal" property. "We have received complaints about both 8 and 9 Gobinda Banerjee Lane. We had plans to demolish the 8 Gobinda Banerjee Lane property on Wednesday itself. We will not share who the complainant was," said a KMC buildings department official.
"I woke up in the morning and prepared tea for myself. I just started reading the newspaper when this promoter came and threatened me. He was accompanied by 8-9 other people, two of whom I know by face. He claimed that I, along with several others, conspired, leading to a stop-work notice. He said he will spare none of us and started assaulting me. I was hit on my face, nose, head, and right shoulder. They came armed with choppers. I was severely injured. I was able to call a few of my acquaintances who took me to MR Bangur Hospital. Thankfully, I have not broken any bone, though I have pain all over my body," claimed Neogi. He has filed a complaint at Charu Market police station.
Neogi stated that as a conscious citizen, he had sided with the locals in opposing the illegal construction but clarified that he never himself contacted the mayor or his office to stop the construction. "This construction started 2-3 years ago. It was halted after a notice. The construction had resumed recently. I was unaware that KMC was informed about this illegal construction or that it was even discussed in any KMC meetings earlier. I came to learn about this development today from some locals and a few reporters. Since I knew there was illegal construction happening in my locality, I also spoke out against it. It did not feel right that an illegal building up to six floors would be constructed without prior permission. However, I was never involved in any trouble. Neither have I officially complained anywhere," claimed Neogi.
In the formal complaint, Neogi alleged that local people had raised their objections to the construction even earlier, but the accused brushed them off, saying he could handle the administration himself. The Charu Market Police said they will investigate the case. "We need to ascertain the ownership of the plots, the chain of events, and the previous enmity angles before we take our next step," said a senior police officer.