Moral policing in Bengal’s Khardah: Locals attack footballer, gf

Kolkata: A footballer, Asgar Ali, in his early 30s, popularly known as Mohammad Azhar Uddin, and his girlfriend were allegedly roughed up by a group of local club members in Khardah on Saturday evening. The couple was accused of continuing their relationship without the club's approval, even though the duo's wedding date has already been fixed.In the area, young couples are reportedly expected to seek the club's consent for getting into a relationship or marriage. The footballer sustained injuries after the alleged assault.Both the families of the youth and the woman have lodged an FIR against the accused club members, including a political party functionary, with Rahara police station. Based on their complaint, the police launched a manhunt for the accused, who were allegedly acting as self-proclaimed moral police to ‘teach the couple a lesson.'According to local sources, the incident took place in the Dopearia area of Khardah, where the victims and the accused live. According to sources, the victim, Ali, is a popular footballer in the Sodepur-Khardah area. "Ali has been in a relationship with the woman for three years. Recently, they decided to get married and both the families have agreed to it. Their wedding was scheduled to be held two days after Eid," a neighbour said.Shukur Ali, a Trinamool block president, said, " Their indecent behaviour in public places has disgusted the local people. The law will take its own course." Local BJP neta Joy Saha criticized the incident, saying: "Will they decide what the people will eat and do?" Minister Sobhandeb Chattopadhyay said, "I have asked the cops and the administration to take proper action."