Padma Shri awardee teacher Kazi Masum Akhtar and his colleague Swati Banerjee were allegedly assaulted and verbally abused in North Kolkata after they confronted construction workers over debris that reportedly fell on them, according to a report by The Times of India.
The incident reportedly took place on Friday while the two teachers were returning from census duty. According to the report, debris from an under-construction high-rise fell on them, following which they confronted workers at the construction site.
The confrontation allegedly escalated, with the two teachers claiming that they were subjected to physical assault and verbal abuse. The incident has raised concerns over safety around construction sites and the accountability of those responsible for ongoing building work in densely populated areas.
Kazi Masum Akhtar is a Padma Shri awardee in the field of Literature and Education, according to the Ministry of Home Affairs' list of award recipients.
