Five men were arrested at a musical soiree in Salt Lake’s ED Block on Thursday night on charges of assaulting two policemen when the cops asked them to switch off the loudspeaker.

An officer of Bidhannagar Commissionerate said the policemen were part of a routine patrol who went to the park where the soiree was on following a complaint from residents against the blaring music.

“Once they entered the park they found the programme was on in full swing,” the officer said. “The team asked the organisers to stop using the loudspeakers as it was well past 11.30pm and several residents had compolianed of getting disturbed.”

But the organisers paid no heed. When the cops persisted, they got into an argument with them, the officer said.

“A large group of men surrounded our team, which included an assistant sub-inspector and a constable, and started shoving them. Some of the men tore their uniform as well,” he said. “The two somehow managed to escape and called for backup. A large contingent of cops was sent to the area. Cops picked up five who were main suspects.”

Residents of ED Block, however, alleged that the police picked up the men at random.

“The men who were involved in the argument were not arrested,” a resident said. “They picked up whoever they could lay their hands on. They arrested a 59-year-old man who had gone to reason with them.”

All the arrested have been booked under IPC sections 186 (obstructing a public servant from discharging his public functions), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging his duty) and 506 (criminal intimidation).

They were produced before a Salt Lake court on Friday. All five were released on bail.

Soumyajit Saha, the lawyer who represented the five in court, said it was highly unusual that the officer who claimed to have been injured was the arresting officer.

“The officer and the constable claimed they suffered hand injuries, after which they sought reinforcements,” Saha said.

“It is highly unusual and improbable that there were no other officers in the team and the same injured officer was able to arrest five men and complete all paperwork despite a hand injury.”