An additional officer in-charge (OC) was badly injured after a group of alleged goons led an assault on police after the cops went on a raid to bust a gambling den at Jyotinagar Colony, Chitpore on Friday night.
Tension built up in the area after cops sustained injuries following an attack and the men in uniform reportedly went on an arrest spree, the locals alleged.
As many as 18 people have been arrested in connection with the assault.
Sachin Mandol, additional OC of Chitpore police Station sustained serious injuries on his head. He has been admitted to CMRI hospital, where his condition is stated to stable.
At least five cops besides Mandol sustained injuries, said police. A large contingent of force led by DC North had brought the situation under control.
According to police officials, acting on a tip off, a team of cops led by Additional OC of Chitpore police station Sachin Mandol went on a raid purportedly to bust the gambling racket thriving in the area for quite some time now.
An officer of the Anti-Rowdy section (ARS) of Kolkata police said that as the force which went on a raid to bust a gambling racket acting on a tip-off led by the Additional OC was small in numbers, they were easily outnumbered by the group suspected to be behind the thriving racket of gambling and other anti social activities.
The officer said that Mandol was mobbed by a large number of people and was allegedly roughed up by them.
“A group of people suspected to be behind a thriving gambling den active in the area for quite some time now was responsible for the attack. We are trying to identify people who are responsible for the attack. 18 people have been arrested so far,” the officer added.
The group also went on a rampage and vandalised several motor bikes.
The locals, however, alleged of police highhandedness and repression.
“They came all on a sudden and began to beat up our male members without any reason.”
“Women too suffered at the hands of police. They even did not spare our children, who were fast asleep,” said one of the women Rani Malik.