A scheduled administrative hearing in Howrah district descended into a violent public brawl on Monday afternoon, causing significant disruption. The incident occurred at the SIR hearing centre located within the Uluberia Block No. 1 BDO office.
Confrontation Sparks Free-For-All
According to local sources, the trouble began during the hearing process for residents of Chandipur gram panchayat. A man, who works as a computer mechanic and had been transferred to Bengaluru shortly after his marriage, was present for the hearing. He had reportedly learned that his wife had eloped with a youth from their village. His brother had even filed a missing person's complaint at the Uluberia Police Station in 2024.
On Monday, the man had travelled from Bengaluru to attend the SIR hearing. To his shock, he spotted his estranged wife standing in the queue with the very youth she had eloped with. Overcome with anger, he immediately confronted and lashed out at her.
Hearing Suspended Amidst Chaos
The situation escalated rapidly when the youth tried to intervene and resist the attack. The man's brother joined the fray to support him. Shortly after, a relative of the youth, who was also present at the venue, jumped into the fight. What started as a personal altercation quickly snowballed into a large-scale free-for-all, with other family members from both sides and eventually other villagers joining the chaotic scene.
The line for the hearing scattered as punches were thrown. The commotion was so severe that the official hearing process had to be suspended. The Officer-in-Charge (OC) of Uluberia Police Station confirmed that the proceedings were disrupted for approximately 25 minutes due to the violent brawl.
Police Intervention and Official Response
Local police personnel present at the centre moved swiftly to bring the situation under control. Howrah District Magistrate and District Returning Officer, P Dipappriya, addressed the incident on Tuesday. He stated, "The incident was unwarranted. However, there was no major trouble as Uluberia police handled the situation and ensured the peaceful completion of the hearing process."
The Uluberia OC added, "We are investigating this incident. Both parties have been called to give their statements." Block administration sources revealed that none of the individuals involved in the brawl participated in the hearing after order was restored.
The hearings on Monday were part of a schedule for various booths across 10 panchayats of the Uluberia block. While the incident caused a temporary halt, authorities managed to resume and complete the day's proceedings peacefully after police intervention.
