IANS

Kolkata, May 29: A mob in a south Kolkata neighbourhood took law into their hands by lynching a local goon who had been torturing and extorting money from people. And hundreds of women celebrated his death by playing an untimely holi by smearing each other with colours.

The alleged criminal, Pradip Mallik alias Dom Pradip, was killed in Chetla area Saturday night. And women in large numbers gathered outside Maa Sarodamoyee Sporting Club Sunday and played holi, the festival of colours that usually falls in March, to rejoice.

Police said no arrests had been made so far. "We have filed a case of culpable homicide not amounting to murder. We will take necessary action after the situation becomes normal in the area," Kolkata Police Deputy Commissioner (south division) Ajoy Kumar said.

The residents, however, are not repenting. They alleged that Pradip and his henchmen used to torture people to extort money from them. They used to walk into houses and humiliate women at gunpoint.

Despite several police complaints, no action was taken, the residents said.

"Now it's a relief and a good enough reason to celebrate," said Rebati, a Chetla resident.