An elderly couple and their son were allegedly beaten up in Ariadaha, on the northern fringes of the city, early on Tuesday when they protested the bursting of loud firecrackers by members of a Kali Puja committee who were on their way from Belgharia to immerse the idol.

When a team of police officers, including women constables, reached the area and tried to intervene, they, too, were allegedly attacked.

The procession with the Kali idol was meandering through the lanes of Ariadaha and when it reached Moushumi More, some youths started bursting loud firecrackers, alleged a section of residents.

The procession moved at a snail's pace and was accompanied by loud music, they alleged.

When it reached Shanti Kunja, a multi-storeyed building near Moushumi More, the couple, who run a business, protested.

"It was around 1.30am. We told the people who were part of the procession to lower the volume of music," said the man.

"My son informed the police and rushed downstairs from our apartment to tell the puja committee members to stop bursting crackers. A few who were a part of the procession attacked him. When I went downstairs to protect my son, they heckled me. A few women threatened to lodge a police complaint against me when I tried stopping them from beating up my son," he said.

"Later, when my wife came down to help us, she was heckled."

Several women residents alleged they, too, were attacked when they tried to rescue the family.

"Many of those who were a part of the procession were drunk and refused to pay heed to our appeals," said Chandan Chattopadhyay, a resident of Ariadaha.

"We told them there were several senior citizens, including some with pacemakers. But they did not listen," he said.

When a team of officers from Dakshineswar police station reached the spot, some of the participants in the procession allegedly attacked them. One cop was allegedly bitten when he tried to disperse the crowd.

The police later arrested four people for allegedly attacking cops on duty, bursting illegal crackers and threatening some residents of Ariadaha.

"We are scanning CCTV footage to identify the other accused," said a senior officer of the Barrackpore police commissionerate.