Kolkata: A police complaint has been lodged against a BJP functionary from Sarsuna in Behala following allegations of extortion and violence.
But despite the submission of the written complaint and accompanying visual evidence, no further action has allegedly been taken by police, raising concerns among residents, who demanded immediate arrests. But police said they were recording witness’ statements.
The accused, Bittu Sarkar, is the BJP Ward 127 Mandal president. According to the complaint lodged at the Sarsuna Police Station, Sarkar accompanied by six associates, arrived at a motorcycle repair garage and demanded Rs 10,000 from the owner, Ranjan Kumar Singh.
Describing the late-night ordeal, Singh said the group barged into his garage, accosted him and demanded the money. When he refused, the threats increased, Singh claimed. When a customer present at the garage attempted to step in and defuse the situation, the group turned aggressive, he said. “I was about to close my garage for the day and my last customer was still present when the group arrived. As they threatened me, my customer tried to calm them down but both of us were assaulted.”
In his complaint at the Sarsuna PS, Singh claimed the entire episode of the assault was captured on camera. “I have submitted the CCTV footage to the police,” he said, adding both his customer and he sustained injuries in the attack.
Addressing the allegations, state panchayat minister Dilip Ghosh said the administration and the party leadership were tracking the case, adding a political affiliation would not save anyone, guilty of wrongdoing. “The party is monitoring the matter closely, no one will be spared, and police have been instructed to accept every complaint,” Ghosh said.
The incident has triggered political friction in the area, with local residents calling for the immediate arrest of Sarkar and his associates based on the video evidence provided to the authorities.