Dispute over feeding strays escalates to insults, abuse & death threats in N Kol
Times of India | 3 August 2026
Kolkata: A dispute over feeding stray dogs near the main gate of a complex in the Sovabazar area escalated into attack and death threats last week. A complaint by residents of the apartment has prompted cops to register an FIR on Friday.
The incident took place between 10.30 pm and 11.30 pm in front of Ganapati Apartment on Abhoy Ghosh Lane. According to residents, the conflict began when an elderly local woman, a dog lover, began feeding strays in front of the complex’s main entrance.
According to the allegations, when the building’s caretaker, Ram Babu, requested her to move away from the gate to prevent constant barking and sanitation issues, she refused. As the caretaker attempted to shoo the animals away with a stick, three local individuals — Sukanta Singha, his son Soumyadeep, and Sarmistha Mondal — arrived at the scene and began hurling abuse and threats at the caretaker.
Hearing the commotion from her balcony, a female resident informed her husband, triggering another barrage of vulgar insults from the group directed at the flat owners. When the husband asked them to refrain from using offensive language, the suspects became increasingly aggressive and challenged the apartment residents to come downstairs.
Several residents, including the couple, went down to reason with the group. However, the situation quickly escalated as others joined the three persons from the neighbourhood.
The key suspects, along with two-three unidentified accomplices, allegedly attempted to assault the couple and drag them outside the complex. Although the locked main gate prevented the group from breaching the premises, the suspects openly threatened the family with dire consequences. The accused allegedly threatened the wife that they would attack her with acid to permanently disfigure her face and beat her to death as soon as she stepped outside.
Mondal claimed they were only protesting the dogs being assaulted with a stick. “It was the flat members who used filthy language and tried to attack us. Tell me, can three persons attack an entire complex?”
Shyampukur Police were alerted, and a patrolling officer arrived at the scene around 12.45 am to assess the situation and record statements.
Residents told TOI that they are currently living in fear and are hesitant to let their children step outdoors. They said the CCTV footage that captured the incident is being handed over to police.