Teacher thrashed in Kolkata for protesting public drinking, 2 arrested

Kolkata: A drawing teacher was allegedly thrashed by a group of youths in Belgharia in North 24 Parganas district, after he protested against their public drinking early on Saturday morning, police said.

Two persons, including a woman, have been arrested in connection with the beating of the teacher, the police said.

The incident took place in the Nandanagar area under Kamarhati Municipality’s Ward No. 31, triggering tension in the neighbourhood.

According to the complaint lodged by the victim, identified as Nirupam Pal, he was returning home from a Kali Puja invitation around 6 am when he saw four young men and a woman consuming alcohol on the roadside. When Pal asked them to stop, they allegedly attacked him. Pal, who suffered injuries to his face, eyes and chest, alleged that the assailants beat him mercilessly.

“They punched and kicked me, even hit me on the face. My nose and mouth were bleeding. If locals had not intervened, I would have been killed,” he told reporters.

Pal was treated at the Sagar Dutta Medical College and Hospital. He lodged a complaint at Belgharia police station against the accused youths.

Closed-circuit camera footage of the incident, which has surfaced locally, purportedly shows several youths repeatedly hitting and kicking the teacher while he tries to shield himself. News agency, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of the footage.