Cops attacked by husband and son in law of Cong panchayat chief

SOUMYA DE SARKAR, MALDA, EOI, 21 Aug 2016: Five police personnel including two assistant sub inspectors (ASIs) were severely injured in an attack by a mob when the cops went to Kumarganj village of Sripur II gram panchayat under Pukhuria police station last night to arrest the husband and the son in law of the pradhan (head) of Congress run local panchayat in connection to an old charge of attempting to rape a RSP panchayat member.

The seriously injured five police personnel were rushed to Malda Medical College Hospital (MMCH) where from the two ASIs Arsad Sheikh, 50 and Hasimoy Sikdar, 51 were referred to Kolkata. However, they were admitted to private nursing homes in Malda by their relatives. Three constables Mohammed Abuzar Ali, 51 Moya Chowdhury, 30 and Ataur Rahaman, 27 are undergoing treatment in MMCH. Five civic volunteers were injured too but released after primary treatments.

Police sources informed that a team of police led by Sheikh and Sikdar, the two ASIs went to Kumarganj village to arrest Mohabbat Ali, husband of Serina Bibi, the head of Congress run Sripur II gram panchayat along with their son in law Safikul Alam who lives in the neighboring house.

Both Ali and Alam were accused of attempting to rape and molest Ismatara Bibi, an elected RSP member of the said gram panchayat on 5 August. The duo was absconding but police planned to raid their houses after getting information that they would be found in their houses last night.

As the two police vehicles reached near the village around 1 am, a mob started hurling bricks and stones at the police personnel. The police vehicles were ransacked too and the police personnel were forced to get down. They were later beaten from pillar to post by the mob allegedly led by Ali and Alam.

Sensing a peril a police constable communicated the situation to Pukhuria police station. Later, a larger contingent of police rushed to the spot and rescued the injured colleagues.

An injured police constable alleged that Ali and his son in law themselves instigated the mob and led the attack on police.

Serina Bibi, the wife of the prime accused, on the contrary, rubbished the allegation. She claimed that her entire family was in Malda at the time of attack on police and her son-in-law was at the quarter of her brother-in-law at Kumarganj rail station. Serina Bibi said that the attack was completely a conspiracy against her family.

Arnab Ghosh, the superintendent of police said that police lodged a suo motu case after the incident. Five persons were detained for interrogation. Comb hunting was continuing in search of those who attacked the police.