Kolkata, Aug 25 (IANS) Former CPI(M) legislator from Uttarpara assembly constituency in Hooghly district of West Bengal, Srutinath Praharaj, who was arrested from his residence, was granted bail by a district court in Hooghly on Tuesday.

Police arrested Praharaj and two other CPI(M) activists for participating in a “mass disobedience movement” at Chinsurah in Hooghly district on August 10.

Police accused Praharaj and other CPI(M) workers of creating a disturbance during the movement. The main charges against Praharaj and two other CPI(M) workers arrested last night were obstructing police from performing their duties, creating a disturbance in the area and assaulting police personnel.

Praharaj and two CPI(M) workers, Dipak Chkaraborty and Anupam Chakraborty, were presented at a district court in Chinsurah on Tuesday afternoon. Their counsel moved a bail plea, and the judge granted it.

Speaking to media persons, CPI(M)’s Hooghly district secretary Debabrata Ghosh alleged that Praharaj’s arrest was the result of a political vendetta.

“If the police think that they will be able to scare us by arresting us in the dark of night on false accusations, they are mistaken,” he said.

On August 10, activists of CPI(M)’s trade union wing, CITU, broke through police barricades and started moving towards the District Magistrate’s office at Chinsurah. Police stopped them at the clock tower crossing, but they tried to break through the barricade and move forward. Police then dispersed them by baton charge.

Several CPI(M) activists were injured in the police action, while two police personnel were also injured. Police detained more than 40 CPI(M) activists that day. Later that night, police arrested four and released the rest. The next day, the judge granted them bail from the same district court.

On Monday, police arrested the former CPI(M) legislator and two others, and they were also granted bail on Tuesday.

–IANS

src/dan