Three Arrested After Man Assaulted for Selling Chicken Patties Near Kolkata Gita Event

Soumik Golder has been identified as the primary suspect in the assault against vendor Sheikh Riajul.

In Kolkata, authorities have apprehended three individuals in relation to the assault of a man selling chicken patties near Sunday's large-scale Bhagavad Gita recitation event. The suspects, Soumik Golder (23), Swarnendu Chakraborty (32), and Tarun Bhattacharya (51), were taken into custody this morning.

The case involves sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita concerning voluntarily inflicting harm, committing mischief, participating in unlawful assembly, and engaging in deliberate and malicious acts intended to offend religious sensibilities. Soumik Golder has been identified as the main perpetrator. All three individuals will face court proceedings today.

The arrests followed the circulation of a video on social media showing the vendor, Sheikh Riajul, being attacked near Kolkata's renowned Brigade Ground. The footage depicts a group surrounding Riajul and interrogating him about selling chicken patties near the Gita recitation event. Initially forced to perform sit-ups with his hands on his ears, Riajul is subsequently slapped after revealing his name. Despite his apologies and attempts to leave, the group continues to verbally and physically assault him before disposing of all the patties he was carrying.

The video sparked widespread outrage across social media platforms, with many condemning the attack on a poor vendor simply trying to earn his livelihood. Others argued that selling chicken patties near the Gita recital was offensive to attendees of the religious gathering.

In an interview with NDTV, Sheikh Riajul described his experience: "I have been selling vegetarian and chicken patties in Kolkata for more than 20 years. I've never experienced anything like this before. I was selling patties on Sunday when suddenly eight to ten people approached and asked what I was selling. After I told them vegetarian and chicken patties, they threw my products to the ground and assaulted me. I lost inventory worth Rs 3,000."

Kunal Ghosh, a senior leader and spokesperson for the governing Trinamool Congress, stated that the vendor had no intention of causing harm. "Many attendees were wearing leather shoes and taking selfies at the Gita recitation. Do these actions preserve the sanctity of the event? If you don't want to consume something, that's your choice, but why physically attack him? They need to provide an explanation," he remarked.

In response to the criticism, BJP leader and Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar said, "It remains unconfirmed whether the BJP or the Gita event organizers were involved in the assault. This incident likely occurred because someone's religious feelings were hurt. Would it be acceptable to sell alcohol in front of a mosque on Friday? I pose this question to the Trinamool and the Left. I challenge them to sell alcohol outside a mosque during Friday prayers."