Calcutta, Feb. 19: The high court today granted bail to Abu Bakkar Mia and 39 other Forward Bloc members who were arrested after clashing with police in Cooch Behar’s Dinhata on February 5.

Five Bloc supporters were killed in the subsequent police firing, while one National Volunteers Force guard died in hospital the next day.

The accused were charged with rioting, attacking police and ransacking the office of subdivisional officer (SDO), reports our correspondent.

Moving the bail pleas, advocate Shekhar Basu said the firing took place around 12.30pm and the FIR was lodged at 3.35pm. “In the FIR, the SDO mentioned the firing but not the five casualties. Each of those who died sustained bullet injuries in their heads, which proves that the police had failed to adhere to firing rules.”

Opposing the bail plea, acting public prosecutor Ashimesh Goswami said: “The entire attack on the police was pre-planned.”

After hearing both the sides, a division bench of Justice Amit Kumar Talukdar and Justice P.S. Dutta granted bail to the accused.