Kolkata witnessed yet another arrest of a Trinamool Congress councillor as Mohammad Jasimuddin (54), representing ward 39, was taken into custody by Kolkata Police from his College Street residence on Sunday morning. This arrest comes just 15 hours after his colleague, Trinamool Patuli councillor Bappaditya Dasgupta, was apprehended. Jasimuddin is now the eighth Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) councillor to be arrested in the past 14 days.
Dramatic Standoff and Arrest
The arrest followed a tense five-and-a-half-hour standoff that concluded early Sunday morning. Jorasanko police forcibly unlocked Jasimuddin's residence at 95 M G Road, where he had barricaded himself inside with doors bolted. Law enforcement had to deploy a locksmith to break through the main entrance and a collapsible gate.
The operation, which began around 5:30 am, caused significant tension in the Kalabagan area. As police led Jasimuddin away, his supporters gathered to block the police vehicle, prompting furious neighbors to launch a counter-protest. The agitated crowd pelted eggs at the accused politician, forcing police to resort to a mild baton charge to restore order.
Background of the Case
The arrest stems from a 2023 case registered under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, involving the alleged harassment of a minor girl from the area. Tensions escalated on Saturday night when the councillor's aides allegedly cornered the girl, now a college student, alone on a deserted street, slapping and kicking her in an attempt to coerce her family into withdrawing the case. Locals also accused the political goons of breaking all CCTV cameras in the vicinity.
The girl claimed that since 2021, and prior to May this year, police allegedly visited her family's home and threatened them. According to her, Jasimuddin also offered money to settle the case, reportedly willing to pay Rs 20 lakh for its withdrawal.
Legal Proceedings
According to Lalbazar officials, Jasimuddin was formally arrested around 11:45 am, though he has been shown arrested in a second case. He faces stringent charges under two separate cases, including sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal intimidation, assault, wrongful restraint, and voluntarily causing hurt, read alongside Section 23 of the POCSO Act. Two individuals, including the councillor, have been arrested so far. Police claimed that his associates named Jasimuddin as the main conspirator. He has been remanded to one day of police custody.
Dasgupta's Court Appearance
Meanwhile, councillor Bappaditya Dasgupta was produced in court on Sunday, where he was sent to 14 days of police custody amidst drama. While police stood in riot gear to prevent a possible egg attack on him as he was led away from the Patuli Police Station, they claimed to have received at least seven fresh complaints. All complaints, including allegations of unlawful assembly, criminal trespassing, and extortion, are being probed before FIRs are drawn up. Alipore court public prosecutor Sourin Ghoshal stated that police custody was required to unearth the truth, reconstruct the crime scene, and identify and arrest other accomplices.
