Police file FIRs against Congress workers; Adhir defiant

Police on Friday registered FIRs against 1,200 Congress workers who vandalised the Murshidabad district magistrate’s office here in the presence of Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, even as the Union Minister remained defiant saying nothing had happened.

Murshidabad Superintendent of Police Humayun Kabir told reporters here that FIRs have been lodged against the 1,200 Congress workers who went on a rampage in the DM’s office on Thursday.

Asked if the minister’s name figured in any the FIRs, the SP refused to divulge saying, the matter involved a union minister.

Congress workers yesterday smashed flower pots, pulled down a shed and threw brickbats breaking the windscreen of a vehicle. Mr Chowdhury was seen standing on the bonnet of a jeep, apparently trying to pacify the demonstrators who were holding a sit-in demonstration, protesting against the death of a party worker.

Mr Chowdhury, who was present during the demonstration which turned violent, said, “It was expected that a case will be filed against me. Earlier also I had faced a number of charges. I tried to pacify the irate mob. Everybody witnessed the role played by me. It was appreciated by local officials.”

The Congress MP from Behrampore stuck to his yesterday’s statement that nothing had happened.

He said PCC president Pradip Bhattacharjee, a CLP leader and three MPs had gone to submit a memorandum to the district magistrate, but were told that he was having his lunch.

“How dare the district magistrate refused to meet the delegation?” he asked.

The PCC president also maintained that the district magistrate did not come (to meet them) and no Congress worker was involved in vandalism.

Meanwhile, ruling Trinamool Congress on Friday condemned the incident saying the Prime Minister should take action against the Union Minister.

“This is not a new thing for Adhir Chowdhury to do all illegal things. He led the group yesterday. The PM should take action against him,” Trinamool leader Sultan Ahmed said.

The Election Commission should take note of it and debar Mr Chowdhury from entering the district wherein the Rejinagar bye-poll is scheduled for February 23, he added.