Daijiworld Media Network - Kolkata
Kolkata, Jun 30: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested Shakir Ali, a Trinamool Congress councillor and the husband of former MP Aparupa Poddar, in connection with its investigation into the violence that erupted during a Ram Navami procession in West Bengal's Hooghly district in 2023.
According to NIA officials, the case relates to clashes that took place during a Ram Navami procession in Rishra. The investigation was subsequently transferred to the central agency, which has been probing the incident.
Acting on the case, NIA officers, accompanied by personnel of the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF), conducted a raid at Shakir Ali's residence in Rishra on Tuesday morning. He was present at the house and was taken into custody following the search.
Shakir Ali currently serves as the Trinamool Congress councillor for Ward No. 4 of the Rishra Municipality.
A large number of local residents gathered outside the residence during the operation, and news of his arrest quickly spread across the area.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has previously alleged that the violence during the Ram Navami procession in Rishra had taken place at the instigation of Shakir Ali. The Trinamool Congress has denied the allegations.
Aparupa Poddar, who represented the Hooghly constituency in Parliament for two consecutive terms, was denied a party ticket for the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. Following the decision, she publicly expressed disappointment, alleging that she had been overlooked because she did not possess substantial financial resources. Despite her criticism, she affirmed her loyalty to Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee and said she would continue working for the party as an ordinary member.
In a separate development on Tuesday, police in Serampore arrested Sudarshan Bar, an influential member of the Piyarapur Gram Panchayat and a close associate of Trinamool MP Kalyan Banerjee.
According to BJP MLA Dilip Singh, Sudarshan Bar faces allegations including assaulting political workers, illegally occupying land, corruption in panchayat administration and extortion linked to industrial projects along National Highway 19.
Police said the accused would be produced before the Serampore court later on Tuesday as further legal proceedings continue.