One day after the West Bengal elections commenced, the NIA (National Investigation Agency) picked up a Trinamool Congress member from his house in Lalgarh and swooped him away to Kolkata.
The incident took place today in Jhargram district of the state when the agency arrested Chhatradhar Mahato while he was asleep. A 40-member team arrived at his house and dragged him away, according to local sources. A cop received injuries during the ruckus. Mr.
ALSO READ: BJP Promises “Sonar Bangla” In West Bengal Elections Manifesto
Mahato’s family refused to sign any document presented by the NIA. He is under the agency’s custody till 30th March.
He has been named under several cases and is expected to be arrested under one of these, including the murder of Prabir Ghosh, a CPM leader, back in 2009 when Maoists were emerging in Lalgarh. Maoists had attempted hijacking the Bhubaneswar Rajdhani Express following Mr Mahato’s arrest then to demand his release. The agency is investigating this case as well.
The lawyer appearing for him, Kaushik Sinha, released a video message today speaking about the case. He said his client’s wife made him aware of the matter. In the clip, Mr Sinha said he wasn’t permitted by the NIA officials to wear a proper dress as well.
The Trinamool leader was hurried away “without even intimating any case or about the warrant of arrest or any order of a learned court. The procedure of arrest adopted by NIA is not proper and justified according to the provision of CrPC,” he said.
Though the exact reason hasn’t been known yet, Mr Mahato’s sudden arrest is believed to be a result of his absenteeism in front of the agency 3 times a week. The court had ordered him to present before the NIA every Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 11 am.
He was publicly seen casting his vote yesterday, marking the first time he did so since he was arrested in 2010 under UAPA.
The 57 year old was People’s Committee Against Police Atrocities (PCPA)’a leader. The organisation was founded in 2008 after Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee was tried to be killed by Maoists. Sasadhar Mahato’s, his elder brother, was linked to the case.
ThePCPA was soon believed to be acting as the front for Maoists and majority of the cases erupting from these activities were linked to Mr Mahato. The murder of many CPM leaders during the years 2008-2011 was also attributed to him.
ALSO READ: The first Kisan Rail has been loaded from Warangal to Barasat of West Bengal
He remained in contact with Mamata Banerjee and joined the Trinamool Congress as a State Committee member after his release from jail this year.
