Kolkata, Nov. 9 -- Three persons have been arrested in connection with the clashes outside MAITC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's Kalighat residence during his birthday celebrations on November 7. All of them were remanded to eight days' police custody.
The arrested persons have been identified as Md Tauqir Alam (39) and Md Ershad alias Tipu (32), both residents of Ekbalpore, and Shreedip Das (38), a resident of Thakurpukur.
Four FIRs have been registered at Kalighat Police Station in connection with the incident. Two were lodged suo motu by police officers, while the remaining two followed complaints from the rival sides. Abhishek lodged one FIR against 30-40 unidentified persons, alleging an attack on his supporters. Another FIR, based on a complaint by Guria Hari, names Abhishek and 30-40 others.
The cases invoke various provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including non-bailable offences under Sections 121(1) and 132, relating to causing hurt to and assaulting public servants.
Reacting to the arrests, Abhishek accused Kolkata Police of practising "reverse policing".
"Kolkata Police have perfected the art of reverse policing! The hooligans who attacked my residence are roaming free, while those who were assaulted and injured have been arrested," he posted on X.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said that everyone involved in the incident would be arrested after examining CCTV footage and that they would be kept in custody if necessary. Claiming that many of those involved in the clashes were not local residents, he said: "Where did they come from? Who had asked them to come? There is no question of sparing anyone."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.