Siliguri, Sept. 9 -- Police arrested the son of a TMC leader after he allegedly entered the Fulbari helipad area despite tight security arrangements during Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari's North Bengal visit on Tuesday.

The accused has been identified as Bapi Roy, son of Dilip Roy, the TMC block president of Dabgram-Fulbari. According to sources, Bapi allegedly entered the secured helipad premises in a four-wheeler bearing an "ARMY" marking.

BJP workers and supporters were present outside the helipad to welcome the Chief Minister. After noticing Bapi inside the secured area, they raised objections, leading to a heated altercation between BJP workers and police personnel. A large police contingent subsequently reached the spot and brought the situation under control.

Bapi Roy was arrested by New Jalpaiguri Police on Tuesday night and produced before the Jalpaiguri court on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Dilip Roy defended his son, claiming that Bapi had gone to the helipad to deliver food to a security personnel. He alleged that the matter was being deliberately politicised.

In another incident, an illegal unit allegedly involved in manufacturing spurious foreign liquor was busted at the residence of TMC panchayat Pradhan in Sahodargachh, Bidhannagar. The Excise Department arrested Biswajit Sarkar alias Bosu, husband of Jharna Sarkar, the TMC Pradhan of Bidhannagar-II Gram Panchayat. Biswajit is also reportedly considered close to TMC leader Kajal Ghosh.

Acting on a tip-off, the Bagdogra Range of the Excise Department raided the premises on Tuesday night and seized counterfeit liquor bottles, fake labels, bottle caps, holograms, coloured and flavoured spirit, caramel, flavouring agents, empty glass bottles and other equipment.

Two four-wheelers allegedly used in the operation were also seized. The estimated market value of the seized materials is around Rs 38.77 lakh. Biswajit was produced before the Siliguri court on Wednesday. The Excise Department has launched an investigation to identify others allegedly involved in the illegal operation.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.