NH impact: WB Police arrests BJP office-bearer after expose on plans to stoke communal violence

After National Herald exposed BJP’s plan to stoke communal violence during Durga Puja in a series of investigative reports, West Bengal Police has arrested a BJP office-bearer for spreading communal hatred among communities.

Deputy Inspector General of Police (DIG) CID, West Bengal, Nishat Pervez confirmed the arrest over phone. Talking to National Herald from Kolkata, he said that the investigation is on and many more can be arrested.

“Santosh has been arrested for objectionable FB post under 295 A (deliberate and malicious acts, intended to outrage religious feelings of any class by insulting its religion or religious beliefs), 506 (criminal intimidation) and 120B (hatching criminal conspiracy) and the Violation of IT act,” he said.

Santosh Kumar, who was working as Convenor of BJP Trade Cell, South 24 Paraganas, was arrested on Sunday. Confirming Kumar’s association with the BJP, a CID official was reported as saying that he was involved in the ‘conspiracy.’

BJP distanced itself from Santosh by saying that he was removed from the party much before the expose.

“Kumar was removed from his post on August 9 whereas the alleged conversation took place on September 25. So, BJP has nothing to do with what he said,” said a local BJP leader.

But a post dated September 28 by Abhijit Das Bobby (which can be seen above), BJP’s district president of South 24 Parganas, interestingly states that Santosh Kumar has been expelled from the party which makes the August 9 date referred to above a bit untenable.