Shamshad Ali, a Penal grandfather, did something unusual last week.
He heard the screams of his family under attack by two bandits and responded, along with other neighbours. When the thieves fled the scene after chopping Ali's daughter and son-in-law and terrorising them and their children, he ran them down with his car. One of the bandits died and the other was handed over to police
Police subsequently arrested Ali and held him for three days. Villagers were outraged and lined the streets outside the Barrackpore Police Station where police were keeping Ali, demanding that he be released.
On Sunday night police freed the man, saying it was not because of the pressure from villagers but because a decision was taken to have a coroner's inquest.
Ali has since been treated for hypertension and doctors have ordered him to rest in bed.
Ali's attorney, Om Lalla, told the Express newspaper Ali's reaction to the attack on his family was a justified and reasonable response.
Lalla noted that Ali was detained since last Thursday without charge. "After a threat that legal action would be taken he was released on Sunday night. It is very disappointing how this matter was dealt with," he said.
Lalla told the paper that he was also disappointed with the statements of Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs, who issued a media release last week warning citizens against taking the vigilante action.
"It was unfortunate that the commissioner can make those statements without knowing all the facts. He needs to now address this matter to restore the public's confidence," Lalla stated.
The man's wife, Angela Ali, recalled the incident in an interview with the Express. She said her husband was having lunch at home when he heard the couple's daughter, Nesha, screaming for help.
"Nesha said someone just killed her husband and the men ran down the road. My husband jumped in his car and chased them. He didn't know the men, but two men jumped in front of the car waving cutlasses...
"My husband...drive into them. Then he jumped out the car and ran them down in the lagoon. By that time the neighbour had arrived and they ran down the men and started beating them. When the police came they find one of the men in the lagoon. He had a chop on his foot and he died at hospital."
Ali's son-in-law, Roger Narine Hosein, was chopped on the head and face and is recovering at hospital.
He heard the screams of his family under attack by two bandits and responded, along with other neighbours. When the thieves fled the scene after chopping Ali's daughter and son-in-law and terrorising them and their children, he ran them down with his car. One of the bandits died and the other was handed over to police
Police subsequently arrested Ali and held him for three days. Villagers were outraged and lined the streets outside the Barrackpore Police Station where police were keeping Ali, demanding that he be released.
On Sunday night police freed the man, saying it was not because of the pressure from villagers but because a decision was taken to have a coroner's inquest.
Ali has since been treated for hypertension and doctors have ordered him to rest in bed.
Ali's attorney, Om Lalla, told the Express newspaper Ali's reaction to the attack on his family was a justified and reasonable response.
Lalla noted that Ali was detained since last Thursday without charge. "After a threat that legal action would be taken he was released on Sunday night. It is very disappointing how this matter was dealt with," he said.
Lalla told the paper that he was also disappointed with the statements of Police Commissioner Dwayne Gibbs, who issued a media release last week warning citizens against taking the vigilante action.
"It was unfortunate that the commissioner can make those statements without knowing all the facts. He needs to now address this matter to restore the public's confidence," Lalla stated.
The man's wife, Angela Ali, recalled the incident in an interview with the Express. She said her husband was having lunch at home when he heard the couple's daughter, Nesha, screaming for help.
"Nesha said someone just killed her husband and the men ran down the road. My husband jumped in his car and chased them. He didn't know the men, but two men jumped in front of the car waving cutlasses...
"My husband...drive into them. Then he jumped out the car and ran them down in the lagoon. By that time the neighbour had arrived and they ran down the men and started beating them. When the police came they find one of the men in the lagoon. He had a chop on his foot and he died at hospital."
Ali's son-in-law, Roger Narine Hosein, was chopped on the head and face and is recovering at hospital.
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