TimesView The spate of attacks on cops trying to enforce noise rules and citizens wanting implementation of the rules is worrying. Stern action needs to be taken; else, it will send a very wrong signal KOLKATA: It’s time for the city to get back to work after month long celebrations but it seems there is no end to post-festivity blues. The noise demons have yet again made a comeback to haunt commoners for daring to protest against n oisy firecrackers. This time, members of two families — one of them a cancer patient — were thrashed and abused for standing up to the gangs — armed with noisy crackers — who ran riot during Kali Puja and the immersion thereafter.The first incident was reported from the Bansdroni New Government Colony. Immersions were going on in full swing at the Prafulla Park pond. “It must have been around 11.30pm. Members of a local club were busy immersing their idol. A few youths were bursting all sorts of crackers — rockets, chocolate bombs and shells. One of the rockets landed on our pandal. My son Subham went to complain to the youths. In return, he was told: ‘Besh korechi, Dekhbi (We have done nothing wrong. See what we do next)’,”said Channda Chatterjee.According to Channda, the youths barged in, abused her husband Sandip, a bed-ridden cancer patient, and assaulted Subham when he tried to intervene. “Even my 80-year-old father-in-law Sushanta Chatterjee was heckled and assaulted. It was timely intervention from neighbours that saved our lives,” said Channda. Partha Sen, one of the neighbours, got assaulted trying to protect the Chatterjees. “Sen had to be taken to the hospital with a leg injury. The accused had thrown a brick and tried to smash his foot,” claimed a neighbour.The police version of events, though, is a bit different. “The club members denied that they were bursting crackers. The argument was over playing of the dhaak. We have registered a case of hurt from both ends and are investigating the case. The complaint from Channda Chatterjee does not mention that her husband was assaulted. It said three people — her father-in-law Sushanta, son Subham and neighbour Sen — were assaulted. We can assaure that a probe is on and all the accused will be nabbed,” said an investigating officer from Regent Park police station.The second incident was reported from Dakshin Behala Road in the Silpara area under Thakurpukur police station. According to complainant Kamal Dey, some boys were bursting illegal crackers near his residence on Kali Puja. “I dealt with them firmly. This led these youths to plan a revenge. They began brickbatting my residence and threatening me in foul language. I locked all doors and windows and cowered inside the house with my mother when they tried to break down the door,” Dey said.The next day, after the complaint was lodged at the Thakurpukur police station, the accused returned to try and threaten Dey again. “It was only after cops arrived that they fled,” claimed a neighbour. The Thakurpukur police said a case in this regard has been registered and a probe has been initiated.

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