Kolkata: A couple from Tollygunge Road was allegedly chased at gunpoint and assaulted by a local criminal on Monday after they protested against his illegal liquor trade. The accused, Jaydeb Malakar, was arrested on Monday night.
The incident unfolded when Ruma Das and her husband confronted Malakar regarding an illegal liquor den he operates directly in front of their house. According to the police complaint, the area has become a hub for antisocial elements, with local youths and outsiders gathering every night to drink, causing public nuisance and compromising the safety of women in the neighbourhood.
On Monday, when a group of outsiders started a ruckus at the spot, the couple stepped out to demand they stop. Malakar allegedly pulled out a gun and threatened them. When they refused to back down, he used the butt of the gun to repeatedly strike them. "As the couple tried to flee, he chased them, brandishing the gun and threatening to kill them," a police source said.
Undeterred, the couple reached Tollygunge Police Station to lodge a complaint. Both underwent medical examinations at a nearby hospital, where injuries consistent with a physical struggle and blunt-force trauma were recorded.
Cops launched a search and apprehended Malakar from his hideout later that night. He was booked under the Arms Act and various sections of BNS.
Cops said that Malakar is has a long criminal rap sheet involving drug trafficking and arms dealing. He reportedly restarts his operations each time he is out on bail.