KOLKATA: A middle-aged homemaker, who had protested against consumption of
liquor
in the open, was allegedly dragged out of her residence and beaten up by a group of drunken youths on Wednesday night in New Barrackpore's S N Banerjee Road area. One of her family members, who came to her rescue, was also roughed up by the
goons
.
Rina Mondal
, the 45-year-old homemaker, and her brother-in-law
Uttam Mondal
were again
attacked
by the goons on Thursday morning when they were returning from the
police station
after lodging a complaint. Police have arrested two persons in this connection. Only a day before, a 70-year-old man was thrashed by three drunken youths at the Seven Tanks area near Sinthee after he raised voice against the trio for passing lewd comments at girls.
On Tuesday - the Dashami day - Rina was returning home from a pandal when she saw a group of drunken youths passing lewd comments at local girls. When she protested, the goons fled the spot but they returned on Wednesday night to teach Rina a lesson, said a source.
"We were about to have our dinner, when a gang of five youths barged into our house and started abusing us. When my sister-in-law (Rina) protested, they dragged her out of the house and beat her up mercilessly. The goons attacked me when I rushed out of the house carrying my two-month-old baby in my lap," said Uttam. Rina was admitted to the Madhyamgram Gramin Hospital and later released after treatment.
Two of the gang members, who were later identified as
Suman Das and
Joydeb Adhikary
, were arrested.
Locals alleged that the goons have turned some vacant plots adjacent to the railway gate area into liquor dens. "They drink in the open and harass local girls. Some outsiders also join them. Despite repeated appeals, police never took any action," said a resident.
During the Durga Puja, some of the gang members allegedly made obscene gestures at the women near Rina's residence. Unable to bear this, Rina raised her voice on Tuesday.