Five arrested for attack on police in Birbhum

A day after four police officers including officer-in-charge of Panrui police station in Birbhum district of West Bengal were attacked, five persons were arrested on Saturday and remanded to judicial custody for 14 days.

The accused were produced before a court at Suri, the district headquarters, where they were charged under the Arms Act and different sections of the IPC — unlawful assembly (section 143), section 147 (rioting) section 353 (assault or criminal force) to prevent a government servant from discharging his duty.

The five accused are Hafiz Mollah, Noor E Alam, Noor Hussein, SK Shamim and Mozammel Haq.

Questions are also being raised on why the police did not seek police custody of the accused who were involved in the attack on senior police officers.

They were accused of leading a mob, which attacked Parui officer in charge Prosenjit Dutta when he was leading a force to raid the Chakmondala village after being informed of the presence of explosives in the village.

While Mr Dutta is still undergoing treatment, the other cops who were also injured in the attack, were discharged. Meanwhile, the police destroyed the explosives found in the health centre in the district.

A few months ago, a leader having allegiance to All India Trinamool Congress, allegedly roughed up an officer inside the Bolpur police station in the district.