West Bengal: LoP Suvendu Adhikari Stopped At Tamluk Enroute Violence-Hit Howrah

New Delhi: Leader of the Opposition in West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, was stopped by the police at Tamluk in Purba Medinipur district on Sunday, PTI reported. This development took place as the cops, according to the news agency, claimed that he was heading towards violence-hit Howrah.

Earlier in the day, Adhikari headed on a collision course with the West Bengal Police as the law enforcers asked the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader not to visit parts of violence-hit Howrah district where prohibitory orders have been clamped.

The Nandigram MLA, however, retorted that he would move the court on Monday if he is stopped.

“I will visit our party offices in Howrah district that were ransacked. Police has asked me not to visit areas where Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed. But I will not violate prohibitory orders as I will go there alone,” PTI quoted Adhikari as saying.

“If I am stopped by the police, I will move the court tomorrow (Monday). An LoP can't be stopped from visiting a trouble-torn area,” he added before leaving his Kanthi residence for Howrah.

A letter, issued by the officer-in-charge of Kanthi Police Station at the BJP leader’s hometown in Purba Medinipur district, stated that concern over his security was the main reason for asking him not to visit parts of Howrah district where Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) has been imposed.

Earlier on Saturday afternoon, West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar was arrested when he was heading towards Howrah district.

Majumdar was later released.

“After putting BJP WB President Sukanta Majumdar under detention, Mamata Banerjee is now ensuring that LoP Suvendu Adhikari is not able to visit Howrah, where BJP offices have been gutted. Her entire focus is on the opposition, not on rampaging “Dudhel Gais”, as she calls them…,” BJP’s West Bengal co-in charge Amit Malviya tweeted earlier in the day.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh while reacting to the development alleged that Adhikari wants to visit Howrah with the intention of fanning trouble.

“What is the need for visiting areas where Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed? He is going to Howrah to create trouble. The BJP wants to destroy the peaceful atmosphere in the state,” he said.

Amid protests in several parts of Howrah district over the controversial remarks by suspended Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Nupur Sharma and expelled party leader Naveen Jindal on Prophet Mohammad, the West Bengal government on Saturday suspended internet services in Beldanga and Murshidabad till 6 a.m. on June 14 to stop rumours and prevent unlawful activities.

Fresh violence was reported in Panchla Bazaar area in Howrah district on Saturday as the protesters clashed with the police personnel and several houses were set on fire. The agitators pelted policemen with stones, injuring some of them, and also vandalised a BJP party office.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee-led TMC government on Saturday effected a police reshuffle in Howrah district. An order stated these appointments have been “initiated in the interest of public service”.