Passengers of private bus beat up ASI after altercation

Kolkata: A police official was allegedly assaulted by four passengers of a private bus while he was returning from his duty on Saturday afternoon. The victim, Ashoke Das (54), an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) of Bhowanipore police station is a resident of Block AF, Sector 1 in Salt Lake. The police have arrested all the four accused.

According to police sources, around 12.30 in the afternoon, when Das was travelling towards his residence in a private bus of route 215A, he stamped on the feet of another passenger when he was pushed by someone in the crowded bus.

The passenger at the receiving end abused Das and when he tried to offer an explanation, a heated exchange of words ensued. The passenger, who was accompanied by three of his friends, soon joined the altercation and when the bus reached the stoppage near Ultadanga railway station, the four beat him up.

The cop was rescued by other passengers and the patrolling police intervened. A team from Maniktala police station reached the spot and caught the four passengers. The injured cop was taken to Maniktala ESI Hospital where he was discharged after treatment.

The cop has sustained head injuries though it is not serious. The Maniktala police station has started a probe. The arrested have been identified as Rabindra Agarwal, Sujit Singh, Kumar Bairagya and Prakash Singh — all residents of Howrah.