All four Trinamool men accused for attacking poll officials held

Kolkata, April 11 (IANS) All four Trinamool Congress activists including a West Bengal minister's son-in-law, accused of assaulting poll officials in Malda district, were arrested Friday.

The Election Commission Friday confirmed the arrest of all the accused named in the police complaint.

"The director general of police, West Bengal, has sent his compliance report and informed the commission that all the accused who were named in FIR have been arrested," EC director Dhirendra Ojha told IANS.

Police sources in Malda district said Welfare Minister Sabitri Mitra's son-in-law Soumyadwip Sarkar, who allegedly beat up the officials when they objected to a large motorbike rally being taken out without police permission in support of the party's candidate from Malda South, Moajjim Hussain, was nabbed during the day.

The three others arrested are Jamal Khan, Motiur Rehman and Muklesur Rehman.

Two other people, whose name did not figure in the FIR filed in the case, were arrested Thursday. They were given bail in the assault case, but remanded to two days police custody by a district court for obstructing police personnel from discharging their duties.

The incident happened in Manikchak area in the district, with the officials trying to enforce the prohibitory orders on motorbike rally.

As soon as the officials protested, several Trinamool activists assaulted them.

Though he was caught on camera, Hussain denied his presence at the site.

The Election Commission had sought a detailed report from the West Bengal police chief.

The panel Thursday received the report from the district administration and two first information reports (FIRs) were filed on the same day regarding the assault on officials and unauthorised bikes.

The incident occurred a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, speaking at a rally, vowed to avenge the "insult" inflicted by the EC when it ordered the state government to transfer eight officials.

Earlier, the block development officer of Habra in North 24 Parganas district alleged that he was assaulted and insulted by the Trinamool activists for removing Banerjee's banners and posters. In Howrah, an election team was attacked by Trinamool workers for removing the party flags.