As row over public parading grows, two more Trinamool leaders held

MP, May 31, 2026, Kolkata : The recent public parading of accused persons with ropes tied around their waists has sparked a debate over police conduct and constitutional rights. The controversy gained traction after police paraded arrested TMC leader Sheikh Baban, husband of Kaugachhi No. 2 Gram Panchayat member Sonali Bibi, through his locality with a rope tied around his waist. Baban was arrested on charges including alleged extortion and intimidation.

Amid the ongoing crackdown, two more Trinamool Congress public representatives were arrested over separate allegations on Friday night and Saturday morning. In North 24 Parganas, police arrested Basirhat Municipality Ward 21 councillor Gopal Das from his residence on Friday night. 

He has been accused of collecting money from beneficiaries under the Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana, allegedly promising housing in exchange for hefty payments. Local residents claimed that many genuine beneficiaries were denied houses for failing to pay, while others who paid money never received the promised benefits. Residents had staged protests outside his residence in recent weeks, demanding his arrest.

In a separate incident, Rajpur-Sonarpur Municipality Ward 32 councillor Barun Sarkar was arrested early Saturday on allegations of stealing fish from a local fishery. According to local residents, Sarkar, accompanied by associates, was allegedly taking fish from the water body when people gathered and confronted him. He was reportedly detained by locals before police arrived, after which he was taken to the police station and later arrested on charges related to fish theft.

The arrests come amid ongoing debate over police practice, particularly the public parading of accused persons, which has drawn criticism from legal experts and human rights activists.