A doctor was allegedly molested and her husband and companions were assaulted during a movie at a mall cinema in Kolkata on Sunday evening, following which police arrested six men based on her complaint.
According to the complaint, the accused repeatedly harassed the group during the screening by making obscene and sexually suggestive comments and gestures. The situation escalated after the woman and her companions objected, with the accused allegedly attacking members of the group inside the cinema hall.
The theatre authorities intervened and alerted the police. Officers reached the cinema hall shortly afterwards and attempted to speak to the accused. Police sources said the men argued with the officers, used abusive language and behaved rudely with other moviegoers before being taken to the police station.
Police identified the six accused as Anand Kumar, Suresh Kumar, Arvind Kumar, Srijan Darbar, Manoj Roy and Arindam Ghosh using identity cards found on them. The police said that during interrogation, Darbar allegedly claimed to be a student of Jadavpur University and threatened dire consequences if he was arrested.
A case was filed against the six under charges relating to wrongful restraint, causing physical hurt, words or gestures insulting the modesty of a woman, and use of criminal force against a woman with intent to outrage her modesty. The charges concern allegations made in the complaint and do not establish guilt.
The incident places attention on the responsibility of commercial entertainment venues to respond quickly when harassment or violence is reported inside their premises. In this case, the theatre authorities alerted the police after intervening, and officers took the accused to the station following the confrontation.
The police produced all six accused in court and sought their custody. Further proceedings will depend on the court’s consideration of the police request and the investigation into the complaint.
