Kolkata noise protest: Immersion mob enters home, assaults teacher, hubby; family seeks protection

KOLKATA: A woman from Laxmi Narayan Colony near Garia was attacked — along with her husband and in the presence of their 14-year-old son — late on Thursday night for protesting against bursting of firecrackers by revellers in an immersion procession.The couple — a trader and his wife, who is a teacher — was allegedly assaulted first on the street. When the woman managed to flee to the rooftop of her home, the accused reportedly followed her and molested her. The victim reported the incident to cops. However, after cops dispersed, the accused allegedly regrouped and threatened the woman again at Baghajatin State General Hospital, leading her to seek cop help again by dialling 100.The family has claimed that their house was attacked even on Friday morning for involving the police. Cops have started a probe suo motu, though a formal complaint is still awaited at the Netaji Nagar Police Station. It all started on Thursday night when crackers were burst during the procession of ‘Khelaghar' club between 11.30 pm and 12.30 am."I went to drop a guest. On our way back, a cracker exploded in front of me. As a child had burst it, I tried to warn him. This angered others. A drunk group responded with violence," she claimed.Her husband said: " The youths attacked her, dragging her by the hair, throwing her on the road, and assaulting her. They kicked and punched her, causing injuries that required stitches." The couple's 14-year-old son, who witnessed the attack, has been left traumatised. The family now wants to leave their home. The trader said, "As my wife rushed in, they entered our home, assaulted her and tore her clothes. They threw stones and bottles from the street. We called cops, who advised a medical examination before a plaint. At Baghajatin Hospital, the attackers issued threats. We went to Bangur Hospital and returned around 5 am." The family has requested police protection. Locals and police version, though, differed. A puja organiser, Barun Kar, claimed that it was one of the woman's guests who discharged a cracker, injuring a child and leading locals to protest. "The woman threw flower crackers and flower pots from the rooftop, forcing us to enter her home," claimed Kar. "As police arrived at the address, a small gathering was found there. The woman alleged a physical attack during the immersion procession. She was asked to file a plaint but she preferred to undergo treatment first," said a senior officer of Jadavpur division."She again sought cop help to go to MR Bangur Hospital from Baghajatin Hospital. She was escorted by Netaji Nagar PS, and she communicated that she would make a complaint after medical treatment," said DC (SSD-Jadavpur) Bidisha Kalita. Cops have got plaints from both sides. The cops posted about the incident on social media, asking for peace to prevail in the area.