Giridih, June 15: Former chief minister and JVM (P) supremo Babulal Marandi, who was arrested by the Giridih police last night, was released today.

The JVM (P) chief and Koderma MP was taken into custody while he was staging a dharna last night in front of the office of the divisional forest officer in Giridih over work permits of mica scrap labourers.

Marandi’s supporters allegedly assaulted forest officials, including assistant conservator of forest B.B. Sinha and ransacked the office during the dharna.

Since 2008, Marandi and his partymen have waged a war against divisional forest officer A. Sharma. The Indian Forest Service officer had tightened the noose on the illegal mica trade in Giridih, but Marandi accused the DFO of high-handedness.

Meanwhile, the police today denied they had arrested Marandi. Superintendent of police A.V. Homkar said Marandi was kept in police custody for security reasons and as a preventive measure.

While leaving the circuit house today, Marandi said he was satisfied now as DFO Sharma had been transferred.

“With the transfer of the DFO, my work is complete. The laws are meant to help people and not to kill them from starvation,” he said.