A shocking incident fueled by the dangerous obsession with creating viral social media reels has come to light in South Kolkata, West Bengal. In the Haltu locality falling under the Garfa police station limits, a group of youths allegedly attempted to burn an 18-year-old alive solely to film a video for social media. The victim was returning home after finishing his workday when he was intercepted by the accused. Despite the horrific ordeal, the teenager displayed remarkable presence of mind and managed to escape while engulfed in flames, effectively saving his own life.
Horrific Incident Near Lenin Nagar Pond
The horrifying assault took place on the late evening of October 27 near a pond in Lenin Nagar, located within the Haltu area. The 18-year-old victim was walking back to his residence after work when he encountered a group of youths sitting near a public bench by the waterbody. The accused stopped the passerby and forcibly dragged him to a nearby concrete bench. They initially attempted to force-feed him petrol. When the teenager resisted and their attempt failed, the perpetrators reached an extreme level of cruelty by pouring the flammable liquid over his body and igniting it.
Filming the Crime for Social Media Attention
Disturbingly, the accused were recording the entire act on their mobile phone cameras as it unfolded. Their underlying objective was to edit the horrific footage into a short reel and publish it across social media platforms for online attention. As his clothes caught fire, the victim screamed out in agony and terror. However, despite being engulfed in flames, he did not lose his composure. He immediately bolted away from the scene while on fire, a split-second decision that ultimately enabled him to douse the flames and survive the attack.
Police Raid Leads to Five Apprehensions Including Arghya Saha
Upon receiving information regarding the violent crime, officers from the Garfa police station immediately launched a formal investigation. Police teams analyzed technical evidence, examined digital traces, and interviewed local witnesses in the Haltu locality. Following swift raids across suspected hideouts, law enforcement officials arrested three adult suspects, including the primary accused, Arghya Saha. Furthermore, two minors involved in the planning and execution of the attack were detained by the police. Legal proceedings against all five individuals are currently underway.
