Siliguri, 03rd October: Tension erupted in the Jyoti Nagar area under Ward No. 20 of Siliguri following a neighbourhood dispute, with local residents accusing police of resorting to a lathi-charge during the incident.
According to local sources, a man was initially injured in the head during a dispute within the neighbourhood and was admitted to hospital. A complaint was subsequently lodged at the police station, following which a team from Siliguri Police Station reached the area.
Local residents claimed that after police arrived, some residents requested that the main accused in the incident be detained. However, they alleged that instead of detaining the specific person, police suddenly resorted to a lathi-charge on local residents.
Residents further alleged that youths passing through the area as well as women were also beaten. The driver of a police vehicle was also allegedly involved in a scuffle with some residents.
The situation reportedly escalated further during the incident. It has been alleged that a neighbour, identified as Rajesh Paswan, arrived at the spot with a sharp weapon and attacked Nikhil Paswan on the neck. Nikhil sustained serious injuries and was rescued in a bloodied condition before being taken to hospital.
Nikhil Paswan’s wife said she was in the bathroom when the incident took place. She said that after hearing screams outside, she came out and found her husband injured after allegedly being attacked with a sharp weapon.
The incident has triggered anger among local residents, who have raised questions over the role of the police, who had arrived in the area to resolve the dispute.
Residents have demanded an impartial investigation into the entire incident, along with action against those found responsible, so that the facts of the incident can be established.
