Minds without fear in battered Salt Lake

Kolkata: On October 3 last year, while 56-year-old Salt Lake resident Ruma Deb was coming out after casting her vote in the civic body elections, a group of `unknown youths' punched and kicked her, even as police stood motionless. She is still undergoing treatment for spinal cord injury . On Sunday , she was resolute as ever when asked whether she would venture out to vote on Monday . “I will stand in queue at 6am. I will see what happens,“ she said when asked whether she apprehended trouble.

On the same day , Ruma's friend, 46-year-old Sukanta Banerjee, was assaulted, singled out as a Left supporter. But there's no question as to what she'll do on Monday .“I'll stand in queue with Ruma,“ she told TOI.

Couple Ayan and Soma Dey , residents of EE Block, were both beaten mercilessly by a group a `outsiders' which had overrun the otherwise peaceful township during the civic polls. “But we'll go to vote on Monday . Let's see what happens,“ said Ayan.

Just about six months have passed since a gang of goons battered, bruised, punched and kicked residents just because they had wanted to exercise their franchise and had raised their voices when they spotted irregularities, but people of Salt Lake have had enough. Most of them said they will go out to vote on Monday , come what may . And they will again protest att all irregularities.

Both Ruma and Sukanta, residents of EE Block, were beaten up last year. “It was an experience that we will never forget,“ said Ruma. “While coming out from the booth, I noticed around 50 youths -all unknown faces -standing in the queue. When I asked them what they were doing there, they started beating me up, even as the police remained mute spectators.As they rained blows and kicks on me, I fell down and injured my back. I am still being treated for spinal cord injury .“ On Monday , Ruma and a group of friends will go to cast their vote at 6am at the Rabindra Bharati polling booth. “We will seen what happens. We will raise our voice again if we notice any irregularity ,“ she added.

Sukanta echoes her concern. “We may have apprehensions, but have no fear in our minds. We will go to cast our votes together,“ she said.

It's a similar story for Ayan and Soma, residents of EE Block. “My wife and I had gone to cast our votes, and after coming out of the booth, I noticed a gathering of outsi ders. When I raised my voice, they started to beat me up,“ said Ayan. Wife Soma rushed to the police picket, barely 10 feet from the spot where Ayan was being bashed up. “I told the cops to stop the goons.Suddenly the group encircled me. The cops stood still as those men punched and kicked me,“ Soma said. That doesn't mean they will stay at home on Monday , though. “We will go with all our family members to cast our votes around 8am. Let's see what happens,“ Ayan said.

P K Sen, the 69-year-old resident of AB Block who was assaulted by goons in the last municipal elections, will also go to vote at the AB Block Community Centre around 9.30am, along with his wife.“We don't expect any problem this time, as the spotlight is very much on this township,“ he said.