Kolkata: A 22-year-old Arup Bhandari from Howrah in West Bengal, who was beaten mercilessly when he protested against the harassment of some women, died in a hospital in Kolkata on Monday.
An FIR lodged at the police station just hours before his death had alleged police had failed to act in the matter. Bhandari was on ventilator for 5 days before he succumbed to his injuries. Bhandari’s family pointed fingers at the police for failing to make a single arrest for the last five days.
Opposition party leaders and rights activists joined in the chorus by highlighting what they described as the “deteriorating” law and order situation in West Bengal.
Bhandari slipped into a coma after he was assaulted on January 28.
Authorities at the hospital said Bhandari died of brain hemorrhage or internal bleeding in the brain. The body was sent for an autopsy.
When Bhandari was going with his friends to immerse an idol of Goddess Saraswati at 9.30 pm on Wednesday, a group of youngsters, who were allegedly inebriated, started teasing some women. Bhandari protesting and the youngsters left the spot.
They returned soon after, armed with bamboos and rods, and singled out Bhandari and started beating him. Bhandari was left in a pool of blood.
He was first taken to a local hospital and then shifted to a hospital in Kolkata when his condition deteriorated. Bhandari’s father went to lodge a complaint at Golabari police station but was reportedly turned away. Local residents blocked the road on Thursday, demanding the arrest of the culprits.
Furious residents of Salkia expressed their anger after Bhandari’s death. Additional policemen were posted in the area. Chief minister Mamata Banerjee sent Arup Roy, the agricultural marketing minister, to Bhandari’s house.
On Sunday, social worker Biplab Kumar Choudhury lodged an FIR at Golabari police station that alleged police had failed to act.
