Alipurduar, Nov. 5 -- Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and former Alipurduar district general secretary Sanjit Dhar was arrested under the Arms Act on Wednesday night.
On Thursday morning, police took him for a medical examination before producing him at the Alipurduar District Court. His arrival triggered tension as a large crowd gathered outside the court. People began hurling eggs at him as police escorted him inside, creating chaos on the premises.
Meanwhile, Dhar's lawyer, Suhrid Majumdar, criticised the police over the security arrangements at the court premises.
"It is very unfortunate that the police failed to prevent people from throwing eggs despite the directions of the High Court and the Supreme Court. The case registered against my client is also politically motivated," stated Majumdar.
A contractor by profession, Dhar is considered close to former TMC district president and current BJP Rajya Sabha MP Prakash Chik Baraik.
Police picked him up from his residence near Madhab More in Alipurduar town shortly after 10 pm and took him to the police station, where he was subsequently arrested.
Dhar was allegedly using his political influence to extort money and intimidate people by brandishing a pistol over a prolonged period. Alipurduar Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Shaw said: "Sanjit Dhar has been arrested under the Arms Act. He was produced before the court on Thursday, which remanded him to four days of police custody."
BJP district president Mithu Das said: "The incident reflects the anger among ordinary people against Trinamool leaders. However, our party does not endorse such acts."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.