Kolkata Police have apprehended four additional individuals related to the recent confrontation between two factions in Golpark, south Kolkata, bringing the total number of arrests to 14 since Sunday night. The primary suspect, Biswajit Poddar, known as Sona Pappu, is still at large, as confirmed by the authorities. The altercation occurred late Sunday on Kakulia Road within the Rabindra Sarobar police station jurisdiction, with locals accusing Sona Pappu and his group of inciting the violence.
The newly appointed Police Commissioner of Kolkata, Supratim Sarkar, issued a stern warning on Monday, asserting that those involved in the disturbance would face consequences. Sources within the police department disclosed that Sona Pappu has been linked to previous incidents of unrest, including a homicide case. Formerly engaged in a gold business, he is now purportedly engaged in real estate dealings in the Kasba locality.
Following the Sunday night incident, three FIRs have been filed at Rabindra Sarobar police station, one of which pertains to an assault on a police vehicle. Ten suspects were arrested on the same night and have been remanded to police custody until February 9. Subsequently, four more arrests were carried out late on Monday, with individuals like Bablu Sau alias Chini and Indrajit Maji alias Chhoto Babu taken into custody in one case.
In a separate case, Jayanta Naskar alias Sonu, a resident of the Anandapur police station area, and Debashish Mandal alias Bhutu, from the Lake police station area, were also apprehended. The clash reportedly began during a club outing at Panchanantala near Golpark, with a confrontation erupting between supporters of local businessman Bapi Halder and Sona Pappu’s faction. Allegations suggest that the latter group aimed to assert dominance in the region, particularly targeting Bapi.
Residents claim that around 100-150 troublemakers, some masked, invaded the area, leading to reports of gunfire, bomb throwing, and the use of weapons. The violence resulted in damage to police vehicles, local motorcycles, and property, with recovered bullet casings and bomb remnants at the scene later that night.
