A woman from Park Circus told mayor Firhad Hakim on Saturday that she was allegedly punched in the face by men associated with a builder against whom she had lodged a complaint of erecting illegal floors on a building.
The woman, who runs a NGO, said the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) had issued a demolition order against the illegal construction in Karaya that angered the builder, who then ransacked her office and also hit her.
The woman had also lodged a police complaint but said that the accused was still roaming free.
An officer of Karaya police station, however, told The Telegraph later that the accused has been arrested. “We are aware of the incident and the accused has been arrested also,” said the officer.
Stunned by the complaint, mayor Firhad Hakim asked the woman to forward him a copy of the complaint lodged in the police station against the assault.
“Forward me the complaint. I will take up the matter with the police commissioner,” he said.
The woman had told the mayor that though the KMC had approved construction of only two floors, the builder had raised five floors in the buildings. She had complained against the addition of illegal floors. She added that the builder had also “threatened” to kill her.
The complaint was only one of several complaints against illegal constructions that reached the mayor on Saturday.
KMC sources said complaints of illegal constructions form a big chunk of complaints during each edition of Talk to Mayor.
Sources in the KMC said the civic body has demolished nearly 500 illegal constructions in the last one year, but complaints of unauthorised constructions still pour in.
“A demolition order has been issued and the accused had been given 15 days time to pull down the unauthorised construction, failing which we will demolish the illegal structure,” said an official of the KMC.
The order for demolition of the building was issued last week, said the official.
“I complained against the illegal construction next to my office. The KMC issued a demolition order. The promoter (builder) then came and ransacked my office. He also punched me in the face,” said the woman. “Sir, if this is what happens because a demolition order, I may be killed when the actual demolition takes place,” the woman told the mayor over phone.
The Telegraph was present in the room where mayor took the calls. Senior officials of the KMC were also present in the room.
The mayor gave the woman his WhatsApp number — 9830037493 — and asked her to send a copy of the complaint she lodged with police.
“Send me the complaint. I will talk to the police commissioner. Do not worry,” he assured the woman.
He then said in front of all officials of the KMC that the incident would make people afraid of lodging complaints against illegal buildings.
“How can someone hit a woman? What is this? They will come and assault because the person has lodged a complaint against an illegal structure?” he wondered aloud.
“Police has to act and make arrests,” he said.