Kolkata, Aug 15 (IANS) Former Member of Mayor‑in‑Council (MMIC) of Howrah Municipal Corporation and Trinamool Congress leader Shyamal Mitra has been arrested in the New Town area of Kolkata, police said on Saturday.
There are various allegations of extortion, intimidation and assault against the leader, who is close to former state minister Arup Roy. On Saturday, several people threw eggs at him while he was being taken to the Howrah court from Shibpur police station. It is alleged that he was even beaten up in front of the police.
According to police, on the afternoon of the Assembly election results announcement on May 4, the force led by Sub‑Inspector (SI) Pappu Yadav, who was in charge of counting, stopped a procession heading towards Howrah Maidan. Police claimed that there were 400 to 500 people in the procession, all carrying Trinamool flags. They took the procession forward to shout slogans without administrative permission.
Police said the people in the procession were warned that they were violating the election code of conduct. However, they continued to march and allegedly became aggressive. They allegedly attacked the police, injuring several personnel, including the SI. Some had to be treated in hospital. A case was registered at Shibpur police station against Shyamal Mitra, who was close to Arup Roy.
Among the complainants, Shubhajit Chattopadhyay of Shibpur police station filed a written complaint. He alleged that on the night of April 10, while holding a meeting with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in front of the BJP party office at Mandirtala in Howrah, Shyamal Mitra and his associates allegedly attacked them. He claimed Mitra threatened them with a firearm, demanded Rs 1.5 lakh and took away their belongings. When they refused, he allegedly hit him on the head with the butt of a firearm. At that time, he had Rs 1,030 with him, which Mitra allegedly took away by threatening to kill him.
The arrested Trinamool leader was produced in court on Saturday. At that time, a group of people started throwing raw eggs at him. It is alleged that he was also beaten up. Police managed to take him to court and prevented the situation from escalating further.
–IANS
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