Kolkata: Seniors protest public drinking, thrashed near Girish Park station; 3 injured

KOLKATA: Three senior citizens were allegedly assaulted near Girish Park metro station a day after Christmas, after they protested against public drinking and indecent behaviour in front of metro passengers, particularly women. Two of the injured were taken to Medical College Hospital by locals for treatment.

Swapan Dey (64), a local resident who runs a tourism business, filed a written complaint at Girish Park PS the same night. However, no action was reportedly taken against the accused, who allegedly went on to threaten the victims for reporting the incident.


Despite the police being informed, more than a week passed without the arrest of the accused, who reportedly continued to roam freely. A case was registered only on Tuesday, Jan 6.

This delay prompted locals and local political workers to stage a protest outside Girish Park PS on Wednesday evening, questioning the police’s role and demanding the arrest of the accused.

Police on Wednesday said necessary action would be taken against the accused soon. “Relevant footage has been collected, and the victims have identified one of the accused as a resident of Balaram Dey Street. We are also probing whether there was any prior enmity,” an officer said.

The incident occurred on Balaram Dey Street, close tothe Girish Park metro station auto stand, around 7.15 pm on Dec 26. In his written complaint, Dey stated that he was sitting by the roadside chatting with two friends, Pawan Singh (61) and Arjun Verma (70), when they noticed four youths drinking openly at aneighbourhood corner.

“We protested and asked why they were drinking in the open. I advised them to move indoors and continue if they wished. I also pointed out that people of all ages were passing by and that their remarks were disturbing many, including women. We had no intention of moral policing. We only wanted them not to create a nuisance at such a busy stretch of the road,” Dey said.

He added that the youths immediately got into an argument, insisting they had every right to drink and questioning what was wrong with it. “After about 10 minutes, they left. We thought they had respected our protest, but they returned after 15 minutes,” Dey told TOI .

The accused — allegedly intoxicated youths — again picked an argument and dared the seniors to stop them from drinking in the open. “Suddenly, one of them attacked my friend Pawan. He suffered multiple injuries, including a cut on his forehead. I was also assaulted,” Dey claimed. He alleged that the youths used foul language and threatened the victims. As the two elderly men were injured, locals gathered at the spot, prompting the accused to flee.

Local sources claimed that it took intervention from Lalbazar before the probe got off the ground. Dey told TOI that he mulled moving court but did not in the end. “I got a call from the investigating officer on Tuesday. He asked me to bring my ID card so that the FIR can get lodged,” said Dey.

A demonstration was held at the police station on Wednesday. Cops denied the charges, saying that a preliminary probe was completed and the contents of the complaint were found to be genuine.