CPM leader, 10 others arrested

Kolkata: After a Trinamul Congress councillor, a district CPI(M) leader was arrested by the police along with ten other accused in the daylight attack and vandalism at the Ausgram police station in Burdwan. Triggering controversy the arrested councillor of Guskara, Chanchal Garai, has claimed that he was feeling ashamed to be associated with the Trinamul.

Suren Hembram, the CPI(M) Guskara zonal committee secretary, was caught from his residence on Sunday morning. He is also the leader of the opposition in the Burdwan zilla parishad. According to sources, Mr Hembram and Mr Garai plotted the attack at a meeting to corner the police. Mr Hembram's wife Urmila however denied the allegations. "My husband is innocent. He had gone to Durgapur on Saturday and returned home around 1 am," she claimed. Besides Mr Hembram, police arrested ten othersduring a night-long raid.

Meanwhile, entry to Ausgram police station has been barred. Tension prevailed in the area which wore a deserted look as shops remained closed despite it being a Sunday.

During the day ten accused, including Mr Garai, were produced before the court. Mr Garai said, "It started with Nandigram. I had showed the way to Trinamul here. Now I am feeling ashamed to say I am associated with the Trinamul," he said.

Mr Garai and two others were remanded in two days' police custody while eight other accused were sent to the judicial custody till February 10. Mr Hembram will be produced at the court on Monday.

Meanwhile, BJP state president and Kharagpur MLA Dilip Ghosh said TMC was trying to get the culprits released. Speaking to reporters in Purulia, he said people’s respect for the police force has received a severe jolt. He was when he was asked about the attack.