RISHRA: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested Trinamool neta and Rishra councillor Shakir Ali, husband of former two-time Arambagh TMC MP Aparupa Poddar, in connection with a 2023 Ram Navami violence case.An NIA team, comprising six officials and accompanied by four vehicles of central forces, cordoned off Ali’s Gandhi Sarani residence at 11. 30am. Investigators interrogated Ali for nearly five hours, showing him videos and documents related to the incident.Ali was taken into custody after officials found inconsistencies in his statements. He was booked under relevant sections of BNS and the Explosive Substances Act.The arrest stems from clashes during a Ram Navami rally led by BJP MLA Biman Ghosh on April 2, 2023. Ghosh was injured in stone-pelting and admitted at Howrah Hospital, where then LoP Suvendu Adhikari and the governor visited him. The incident also led to a blockade of local trains.Following initial state police cases and transfer of the Rishra police station officer-in charge, Calcutta High Court transferred the probe to NIA on April 27, 2023. Over 50 suspects have been arrested so far.News of the arrest triggered protests by Ali’s supporters outside his home. “Shakir Ali is like God to us. He always stands by the poor,” said a local resident. An altercation also broke out between Poddar and the police.As she stepped out to calm the supporters, a large contingent from Rishra PS and central forces moved in to disperse the crowd. Ali emerged from the house with folded hands as he was led to the police vehicle.Serampore Police registered a suo motu case against Poddar for allegedly obstructing police duties and attacking a lady constable during the commotion. Multiple videos also showed that Poddar was also obstructing police. The cops have summoned her for questioning on Wednesday.Reacting to the development, Poddar said she had full faith in the judicial system, while previously labelling the raid politically motivated. TMC MLA Kunal Ghosh alleged political vendetta, saying: “Aparupa Poddar has remained a Mamata Banerjee loyalist… That’s why her husband was targeted.”State minister and Serampore MLA Bhaskar Bhattacharya supported the central agency’s action. “Shakir Ali and his team attacked the rally intentionally only for domination in the locality. The NIA acted properly,” he said.BJP spokesperson Debjit Sarkar said: “It is public knowledge that the arrested suspect provoked people into committing violence. The investigating agency must identify and book those who stalled the NIA probe.”NIA said it will produce Ali before a competent court as it continues to examine the conspiracy angle.
