Two groups of youth were involved in a fight at Howrah’s Uluberia late Sunday night, after a woman was allegedly molested.
The victim woman was collecting water from a tube well when she was reportedly molested by a local youth. The accused, Jainul Abedin, managed to escape the spot before he could be caught.
However, the fiancé of the woman, Shekh Khairul, later came to the spot with his friends and started calling out Jainul and searched for him. Late on Sunday, some youth who were friends of Jainul started hurling bombs at Khairul and his friends.
Some of the youth in Khairul’s group were injured in the attack. The others then started firing at Jainul’s friends in retaliation. Police personnel, who reached the spot late, managed to bring the situation under control by hurling tear gas shells.
“Two groups of youth fought after a woman was allegedly molested. The two groups were fighting in Birshibpur area of Howrah on Sunday night. We got control of the situation late at night,” said a police officer.
The incident led to a pedestrian receiving severe injury. Police said, Nakul Mondal, a local resident who owned a shop in the area, was passing through the road when shrapnel of the bomb hit him in the back. Mondal was severely injured as blood oozed out from his back. He was taken to Howrah district hospital, where doctors performed a surgery on his back.
Meanwhile, the police informed that the two groups had been involved in more spats earlier as well. “The groups of Jainul and Khairul had earlier fought over domination of the area. We have already arrested three persons in connection with the case. The other accused will also be arrested soon,” said a police officer. Sources in the police have further informed that the youth are regularly involved in criminal activities. They are also involved in drug-peddling in the area.
Drug-peddling is a very lucrative activity along the border of Howrah and East Midnapore. Many touts and anti-social elements are currently operating in the area and are constantly fighting over control of the turf. Police have regularly conducted raids to prevent such incidents.