A common man speaks up in the aftermath of violence that struck Salt Lake city on Saturday during the Bidhannagar corporation polls in Kolkata.

I’m a 31-year-old businessman and reside in AB Block (Ward 41). On Saturday, I woke up to a huge ruckus.

Since our house is situated centrally, I saw thousands of strangers gathered in front of the AB-AC market and park. They don’t belong to this ward. I have been living here for the past 15 years and I have never seen them before in my life.

Sensing that some problem may occur later, my elderly parents went to cast their votes early. I was at home when suddenly my next-door neighbor shouted out that some men were beating up my dad, Priti Kumar Sen, and that it was being telecast.

I called one of my journalist friends who said he was there and asked me to come. I reached the spot and saw Anindya Chatterjee talking to my father. Chatterjee never misbehaved. My father was beaten up when he was trying to save one of our neighbours. I spotted some who were going to attack the person who hit my father, but I stopped them, saying violence did not solve anything.

While I was returning home with my journalist friend and a photographer, a mob spotted us. They attacked the two.

While I was trying to save them, they started beating me up as well. I suffered injuries to my face and chest. My father and wife rushed towards us but the group they threatened to beat up my wife. My face is so swollen that I can’t even talk right now.

I have always been outspoken in my faith in democracy and human rights. Unfairness and violence have always outraged me. I have always watched on TV and read in the newspaper about violence happening to other people. But I never thought I will be a news item like this. I’m ashamed to call myself a resident of this city.

This city and its people have disappointed me. I don’t belong here. Our state is stuck in a rut.

Suman Sen | Voter, Ward 41

DISCLAIMER : Views expressed above are the author's own.