Kolkata: Police arrested three men after Muslim vendors were assaulted during a large Gita recital event at the Brigade Parade Grounds. The arrests came after videos showed saffron clad attendees attacking hawkers who were selling chicken patties in the Maidan area. The incident has raised concern among minority groups and rights advocates in the city.
The event, called Panch Lokkho Kanthe Gita Path, drew a massive crowd. Multiple religious leaders and senior political figures were present. Amid the gathering, at least three Muslim vendors were targeted. Visuals showed a mob surrounding Sheikh Riyazul, demanding his name, then attacking him once they heard it. They overturned his box of patties and forced him to hold his ears and do sit ups. Riyazul said he lost about three thousand rupees worth of goods. He added that he had spent twenty years selling food in the area and had never faced such violence.
Another vendor, Mohammad Salauddin, reported a similar assault. He said participants stopped him, hurled slurs and attacked him. A third vendor, Muntaz Mallick, said a group demanded his Aadhaar card to check if he was a Bangladeshi. They destroyed his food worth about two thousand five hundred rupees. Mallick said others selling items with onions were also attacked.
Police registered two cases under sections related to unlawful assembly, causing hurt, intimidation and acts intended to outrage religious feelings. Soumik Golder, Swarnendu Chakraborty and Tarun Bhattacharya were arrested and produced in court. They were later released on bail. Police confirmed the investigation is underway.
