Kolkata: Two brothers, who tried to protest against loud music being played right beside their residence by a garment factory owner, were allegedly physically assaulted and intimidated by six men at Cossipore Road-Lock Gate Road in north Kolkata around 1 am on Nov 2.
The victims were attacked for "daring" to protest against the music and reporting the noise pollution to Chitpore Police, who initially arrived and stopped the music before the accused resumed playing it.
The two victims have been identified as Hari Narayan Rajak (45) and Hari Om Rajak (51). Hari received three stitches below his eyes and has a fractured finger. A case was registered at Chitpore Police Station. "The brothers were attacked by Suraj Singh, a local resident known for playing loud music late into the night," said a senior officer, stating a notice will be issued to Suraj to join the probe.
According to Narayan's complaint, the altercation began when he and his brother objected to the loud music emanating from Singh's residence on Lock Gate Road, despite them coming back from an immersion programme.
"Despite our requests, they paid no heed. When my brother Om went over to try and make another request, he was foul-mouthed and chased away. With no other way out, we sought the intervention of police officers from Chitpore PS.
Two cops came, stopped the music, and asked us to return to our homes. But as soon as the cops left, the accused Singh reportedly refused to lower the volume. The situation escalated when Singh, allegedly under the influence of alcohol, barged into our residence with five other men," Narayan told TOI on Monday.
The accused verbally abused the brothers before physically assaulting them. "They first attacked Om. As I ran downstairs to save my brother, they caught hold of me and punched me in my face, barely missing my eyes. I was severely hurt," claimed Narayan. He sustained injuries from the attack, specifically a blow to the side of his head. The accused, Suraj Singh, is also reported to have issued threats of further violence, including murder, against the Rajak family.
Efforts are being made to apprehend Singh, who is currently at large.