Purulia: Photojournalist, son attacked outside home with rods, knives

RANCHI: A group of 20 unidentified men attempted life bids on TOI photojournalist Mahadeo Sen and his son Rajesh Kumar Sen, who is a staff photographer with the news agency, UNI, outside their home at Purulia Road on Saturday evening. The father-son duo was beaten up with rods and canes. The assailants even attacked them with daggers in an attempt to wound them fatally.
The assailants left two motorcycles, bearing registration numbers JH01 DK 8786 and JH01 CZ 9066 at the crime scene and fled when they were chased by Sen’s neighbours.The bikes were registered in the names one Taufiq Akhtar and Mohammad Sharique Khan. Records with the district transport office showed that both are residents of Azad Basti.
The victims filed a complaint against a person, identified as the son of a Kantatoli resident named Numan, and other unknown persons, with the Lalpur police station around 10 pm on Saturday based on which an FIR has been registered.
Police have seized the two bikes and are yet to make any arrests in connection with the crime till the filing of this report on Sunday evening.
Talking to TOI about the incident, SSP (Ranchi) S K Jha said, “We have intensified patrolling in the area and police are examining the video footage of the incident as captured in a CCTV camera. A police team from Lalpur police station is investigating the matter and we will be able to nab the culprits soon.”
Rajesh, who was badly injured in the attack, received head injuries and was to get a CT scan done.
Recounting the incident, Rajesh said, “Around 20 men came in front of our house at around 7 pm and attacked us. Before the incident, they were scolded by our neighbours for rash driving near our gates and creating ruckus in the area. I can identify them, if police hold a parade of the accused.”
Meanwhile, the political adviser to chief minister Hemant Soren, Abhishek Kumar alias Pintu, called up Mahadeo and assured to quick action in the matter. “I will speak to senior officials and ask them to arrest the perpetrators immediately,” Sen quoted Pintu as saying.
Ranchi MP Sanjay Seth also visited the family and expressed his concern over lawlessness and the police inefficiency in controlling crimes in the capital city. “The state is under weekend lockdown and people are supposed to stay inside their homes. Even after that if police isn’t able to track such a crowd of goons, then it is a big question mark on their efficiency,” Seth said.