Bengal LoP stopped by police from visiting violence-hit Howrah

Tamluk (WB): West Bengal Leader of Opposition (LoP) Suvendu Adhikari was on Sunday afternoon stopped by police at Tamluk in Purba Medinipur district “as a precautionary measure” to prevent him from visiting violence-hit Howrah district, where prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed, a senior officer said.

Adhikari was moving with his security entourage when he was stopped by a huge police team at Radharani More in Tamluk. He was not accompanied by any other BJP leader. “We have received information that Adhikari was planning to visit Howrah district, in parts of which Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed.

So, as a precautionary measure, we had to prevent him from going there as his visit may cause a law and order problem,” a police officer said. Adhikari remained seated inside the vehicle, claiming he had no intention of visiting Howrah. He was also reluctant to return to his Kanthi in Purba Medinipur district from where he had started. He engaged in heated arguments with police officers present at the spot, who were blocking his vehicle.

The stand-off continued till the report was filed. Before leaving for Howrah, Adhikari had said he would move the court on Monday if he was stopped from visiting vandalised BJP offices in the district, which witnessed violent protests over controversial remarks on Prophet Mohammad by suspended BJP spokespersons. His assertion came after Kanthi Police Station issued a letter asking him not to visit Howrah as prohibitory orders are clamped in several areas in the district.

The letter, issued by the officer-in-charge of Kanthi Police Station, stated that concern over his security was the main reason for asking him not to visit parts of Howrah district where Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed. “I will visit our party offices in the district that were ransacked. Police have asked me not to visit areas where Section 144 of CrPC has been imposed,” he added. – PTI