Raiganj, Sept. 1 -- In a significant development, police arrested Ekramul Hoque, a Karmadhyaksha of Chopra Panchayat Samity and a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader, from his residence at Kanchakali under Majhiwali Gram Panchayat in North Dinajpur on Monday night. He was produced before the court on Tuesday.
According to police sources, Hoque was accused in several old cases, including post-poll violence in Chopra following the 2021 Assembly elections. The arrest has triggered fresh political tension in Chopra, particularly as several TMC leaders have been arrested in the area following the change of government in the state.
On August 26, police had arrested another TMC leader, Mahammad Sayed, the husband of Rubi Khatun, the Pradhan of the TMC-led Sonapur Gram Panchayat. Sayed had reportedly been absconding and was arrested from his residence.
BJP leader of Chopra Shankar Adhikary alleged: "Hoque had been involved in post-poll violence in the area. He further alleged that the TMC leader was also connected with a murder case and had collected cut money from beneficiaries of the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana."
Hoque denied the allegations and said: "I have already obtained bail from the court in two old cases but was arrested by police again. I was not informed about the cases in which I was arrested."
A senior police officer of Chopra Police Station said: "Hoque was accused in some old pending cases. He was produced before the court on Tuesday and police sought his custody for further investigation."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.