Kolkata: A group of youths who were bursting crackers allegedly thrashed a Behala couple for daring to protest noise pollution right at their doorstep early on Monday morning, leaving the victims — trader Suresh Kumar Shaw (58) and his wife Minati — injured.According to police, the attack took place around 1:30 am on Nov 10 in the Behala Buroshibtala area after the couple confronted the group of six outside their residence.“We have been staying here for the past 15 years. All my three children, including my daughter who is now married, had long resisted noise crackers. There have been noisy Diwalis even in the past but this year was the worst. The youths were bursting loud crackers from the evening. I have some health issues and post 10 pm, my wife requested them to stop twice. This only emboldened them even more and they began to target our door. They packed three chocolate bombs together and threw at our doorstep. We decided to go to sleep. But by 1.30 am, it became so relentless that I decided to walk out and speak to the young men,” said Shaw.As soon as Shaw stepped out, the accused began abusing him and reportedly asked him to go back home. “I only requested them to stop bursting crackers as it was already 1.30 am. They answered back saying they had no other place to burst crackers. As I protested, they began threatening and pushing me around. Hearing the commotion, my wife and sons came out. One of the accused pulled my wife by her hand and landed a punch on her nose. She was left with a broken nose. We rushed her to MR Bangur Hospital. My younger son accompanied us. My elder son stayed back. At the hospital, I was told that my elder son was threatened and the accused kept bursting crackers at my doorsteps till 4 am,” claimed Shaw.The family lodged a police complaint on Nov 11. The cops have picked up three of the accused for questioning. “My neighbours came to my house on Wednesday and sought forgiveness. They promised to finance my wife’s treatment. Since I have to stay here, I might not pursue the case further,” said Shaw. The doctors have stated that the woman will need to undergo nose surgery. She has been shifted to a private hospital.The cops stated that they had collected footage from the area that is a mix of slums and high-rises. “The accused allegedly aided each other to wrongfully restrain the complainant and his wife before assaulting them. Minata Devi received treatment at MR Bangur Hospital and was subsequently discharged,” said an investigating officer.(With inputs from Basabdatta Sarkar)
