Calcutta: A policeman from the Baguiati police station on Tuesday visited the house of the mother and daughter in Kestopur who were allegedly groped, beaten up and made to touch the feet and seek an apology from a councillor of the Bidhannnnagar Municipal Corporation (BMC) after they had dared to protest against an illegal construction next to their house.
The policeman informed the 24-year-old woman and her mother who were allegedly harassed by Asutosh Nandi, the TMC councillor and his men, that the police had drawn up an FIR based on their complaint with the Baguiati police station.
"The policeman told me that an FIR had been drawn up on August 31. He also asked me to visit the Jagatpur police outpost under the Baguiati police station on Wednesday," the woman told Metro on Tuesday.
This newspaper had reported earlier this week how no officer from Baguiati police station apparently took the trouble of visiting the complainants’ house and talking to them in the past six months despite a complaint being lodged in March.
A senior officer of the Bidhannagar Commissionerate said that an FIR had been drawn up against several persons but was tight-lipped when asked if Nandi's name had been included.
"We have started an investigation. We have drawn up the FIR based on the women's complaints and we will take action against anyone who is involved," said the officer.
According to the officer, the FIR has been drawn up against several sections of the IPC, including 447 (punishment against criminal trespass), 419 (cheating by impersonation) and 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation).
According to the cop, they sent a notice to the 24-year-old woman and her mother requesting them to meet the investigating officer of the case at the Jagatpur police outpost on Wednesday.
"We have informed the woman that we have drawn an FIR. We want to speak to her to get a clearer idea about the incident," said the officer.
The woman on Tuesday told Metro that the policeman who visited their home could not inform them about those named in the FIR.
"When I asked him about those named in the FIR he told me to speak to the investigating officer. He told me that was only a messenger delivering the notice. We will meet the officer as directed. In our earlier complaints Nandi's name is mentioned clearly," the woman said.
Multiple calls to Nandi's cellphone did not connect. He did not reply to text messages sent by this newspaper.
Krishna Chakraborty the mayor of the Bidhannagar Municipal Corporation and Nandi's boss said that the law would take its own course.
"I have also started an internal enquiry to find out why none of the complaints reached me directly. The law will take its own course," Chakraborty said.
In March, Nandi's followers had allegedly summoned the mother and daughter to the office of the councillor and the two were made to apologise for having protested against the construction.
They were then taken in front of a local temple where they were groped at by men and then assaulted by a group of women in full view of their neighbours none of whom had dared to protest.
They were then made to touch Nandi's feet and then box each other's ears before being asked to beg forgiveness from him. The two promoters of the building were also present during the women's ordeal.
The family had also lodged multiple complaints with various officials, including the mayor and commissioner of the BMC, over the past year to stop the illegal construction.