Kolkata, Aug 3 (IANS): A West Bengal court Sunday sent a leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress's labour arm, arrested for allegedly murdering an Eastern Coalfields Limited (ECL) contractor, to seven days' police custody.
Indian National Trinamool Trade Union Congress (INTTUC) leader Kedar Pal was arrested Friday for allegedly murdering Ashim Mukherjee who supplied electrical goods to ECL colliery in Jambad in Burdwan district.
"Pal was presented before the Durgapur sub-divisional court which remanded him to seven days police custody," said an officer of Andal police station.
Mukherjee's family, in their complaint to police, have alleged that Pal used to extort money from the contractor and pounced on him Friday repeatedly banging his head on a wall resulting in fatal injuries.
The incident comes a week after another INTTUC leader Chunulal Mishra was arrested for threatening and assaulting ECL officials.
The Bharatiya Janata Party which sent a delegation to meet the bereaved Mukherjee family has accused Trinamool activists and leaders of extortion.
"The industrial scenario in the state is already precarious and with the rampant extortion by the Trinamool, the situation is becoming worse," said party's Asansol MP Babul Supriyo.