Overview
- Two hawkers, Sheikh Riyazul and Md Salauddin, reported assaults near Kolkata’s Brigade Parade Ground while selling chicken patties during a mass Gita recital.
- Maidan police registered non-bailable cases against unknown persons, recorded the vendors’ statements, and will send the viral footage for forensic examination.
- Riyazul said attackers asked his name, beat him, forced squats while holding his ears, and threw away patties worth about Rs 3,000, with a video appearing to show parts of the assault.
- Trinamool Congress and CPI(M) condemned the incident, with CPI(M) lawyer Sayan Banerjee lodging a complaint and TMC figures framing it as an attack on Bengali food culture.
- BJP leaders denied any party involvement, with Debjit Sarkar questioning the sale of non-vegetarian items near a religious gathering and Locket Chatterjee calling the allegations a conspiracy.