A 71-year-old man and his son were allegedly attacked and their house damaged in Chinsurah in Hooghly district when they were returning home after lodging a police complaint against noise norm violations in their neighbourhood.
Four persons have been arrested in connection with the attack, the police said. Environment minister Manas Bhuniya has promised action.
After the Sunday morning incident, an environmentalist requested police and the state pollution control board to take steps to ensure protection of the people who complain against noise norm violations.
The environmentalist also reminded the police and the board about the state environment minister’s promise that such complainants would be protected.
“We had been suffering relentless noise menace, particularly sound from DJ sets, for a few days. This morning my father and I went to Chinsurah police station after repeatedly lodging complaints over the phone,” said Trijit Modak.
“While coming back, we were attacked by some local men with bamboo sticks. Both of us were grievously injured. They also damaged our house and threw stones at me when I dived into a pond to save myself. We complained to police after being treated at the local hospital,” said Trijit, 31.
The family had last year moved Calcutta High Court against persistent noise norm violations in the area and got a favourable verdict. “We have taken action and arrested four persons in connection with the attack,” said an officer at Chinsurah police station.
Biswajit Mukherjee, retired chief law officer in the state environment department and pollution control board, has written to the director general of police and the member secretary of the board demanding action against the attackers and also those who revealed the identity of the complainants to the attackers.
“We received a complaint from Goutam Sarkar, a local environment activist, around noon and immediately followed it up at all levels of the administration. The attackers should be given exemplary punishment. We have decided to go to the area and submit a memorandum to the local administration soon,” said Naba Dutta, secretary of the environment platform Sabuj Mancha.
“I am asking the police to conduct a thorough inquiry and take strongest possible action against the violators,” environment minister Manas Bhuiya said.
“DJ sets are banned and even use of a microphone needs police clearance, according to Noise Rules 2000 and the environment protection act. What happened on Sunday might have been averted if the police had taken suo motu action for using microphones without permission,” said Mukherjee.
Another activist said the attackers should also be booked under Noise Rules 2000. Conviction under the rules can result in a jail term for up to 5 years and a fine of Rs 1 lakh.
