Army ex-major killed by locals outside Kolkata over tap row

A retired Army major died on Friday after being thrashed by locals at Budgebudge in the outskirts of Kolkata following a brawl over collection of water from a public tap.

Jayanta Sarkar (52) had allegedly abused and slapped a little girl after a row over fetching water from a tap on Thursday evening, deputy inspector general of police, Presidency Range, Siddhinath Gupta said.

Enraged over the incident, locals beat up Sarkar with lathis and iron bars, injuring him seriously.

The retired Army officer succumbed to his injuries at the Budgebudge ESI hospital on Friday morning, Gupta said.

Sarkar, who was known for his erratic temper in the area, had been dismissed from service by Army authorities on medical grounds, he said.