March to bring peace and keep vigil... FIR on Babul over Asansol breach

Babul Supriyo argues with a cop in Asansol on Thursday (top); 

ABHIJEET CHATTERJEE, TT, Mar 30, 2018, Asansol: An FIR has been lodged against Union minister and Asansol MP Babul Supriyo for allegedly preventing a police officer from discharging his duty in the area where clashes broke out between two groups since Tuesday evening.

The BJP parliamentarian has also been accused of flouting prohibitory orders.

The suo motu FIR said the minister misbehaved with deputy commissioner of police Rupesh Kumar and pushed him around when the officer stopped Supriyo from entering the violence-affected Chandmari and Kalyanpur areas of Asansol to prevent the possibility of any activity that can fuel tension.

The FIR against Babul has been filed under IPC Sections 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by public servant) and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of duty) and other provisions. If found guilty, Babul faces a maximum prison term of two years.

Te MP speaks to journalists. (Santosh Kumar Mandal)

"We have started a case against Babul Supriyo for violating Section 144 of the CrPC (prohibitory orders) and preventing police from carrying out their duty. The next course of action will be decided later," said L.N. Meena, commissioner of police, Asansol-Durgapur commissionerate. Later, Babul lodged an FIR against the police.

Babul went around driving a car around 1pm to see the situation after the violence linked to Ram Navami marches on Tuesday. When he reached Kalyanpur to talk to the people who had taken shelter at a relief camp set up by local Trinamul workers, some ruling party actvists started demonstrating and chanted "go back" slogans at him.

When he tried to enter Chandmari in his car, a police team led by Kumar stopped him. Some suspected Trinamul workers also started thumping on the bonnet of his white Innova.

A visibly irritated Supriyo got off the SUV. "Why are you stopping me from entering the area which comes under my Lok Sabha jurisdiction. I want to see what is happening here and talk to common people," Babul shouted at the policemen.

The police virtually tried to put him back in the car and a scuffle ensued. Both policemen and Babul were seen pushing each other and trying to move ahead.

At one point, an angry Babul shouted at Kumar and told him: " Aap hatiye yahan se (You move away from here)." The officer also argued and said: "Main yahan se haatne ke liye nahi aya hun (I have not come here to go away)."

Babul got in his car and left the place with his supporters, claiming he was trying to meet the DM and the police chief since last night but they were "too busy and do not have time to meet him".

Asansol mayor and Trinamul leader Jitendar Kumar Tiwari accused Babul of trying to disturb the situation at a time the administration is trying to restore normality.