Govt on offensive, farmer denied bail

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Unfazed by the all-round flak it is facing for the arrest of a farmer, Shiladitya Chowdhury, who had dared to question the chief minister in a public rally at Belpahari in Jangalmahal, the Mamata Banerjee government on Monday strongly defended its action.

Chowdhury’s bail plea was rejected by the Jhargram court. He was arrested on Saturday.
Going on an offensive, panchayat minister Subrata Mukherjee said that Chowdhury was not an innocent man nor were those who were supporting him.
“Chief minister Mamata Banerjee has been visiting Jangalmahal despite her life threat. The Maoists can kill her. The names of Mukul Roy and Partha Chatterjee are also in the list who could be killed by the Maoists. Sitting in Kolkata, they are making a blueprint to kill them. The police had prior information that the Maoists could plant eight or 10 people in the crowd in guise of ordinary protesters to create disturbances,” Mr Mukherjee claimed.
On being asked why the police released him after detaining him on the first day (Wednesday), he replied, “There were definitely lapses on the part of the police.”
Defending the arrest of Chowdhury, state director general of police Naparajit Mukherjee said that he had entered the high security zone, violating police barricade. “It is an offence which attracted police action. The matter is sub-judice now,” he added.
On being asked whether there was any lapse on the part of the police, Mr Mukherjee said, “If necessary, the role of the police will also be probed. I have asked the West Midnapore police superintendent to give a detailed report on the incident.”