A 32-year-old man was arrested on Sunday evening for allegedly attacking police and destroying government properties during a protest by the Indian Secular Front (ISF) at Esplanade on Saturday.
Sheikh Mohammad Iqbal was rounded up from the intersection of Strand Road and Hare Street around 7.35pm.
A resident of Qudang village in Howrah’s Amta, Iqbal has been booked under the same charges as the 19 others arrested on Saturday in connection with the attacks on cops.
Among those in custody is Naushad Siddiqui, ISF leader and MLA from Bhangar, in South 24-Parganas district.
“Iqbal has been booked under several sections of the Indian Penal Code, including those dealing with attempt to murder, rioting with deadly weapon, assaulting a public servant and unlawful assembly,” said a senior officer.
“He has also been slapped with charges under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act and the West Bengal Maintenance of Public Order Act, 1972.”
Iqbal was produced in Bankshall court on Monday and remanded in police custody till February 1. On Sunday, the same court had remanded 18 of those arrested on Saturday in police custody. One accused, a juvenile, was sent to a home.
“We are scanning more images and footage. Only those found to be clearly involved in attacking police and destroying properties are being arrested,” an officer said. “We may arrest a few more.”
Hundreds of ISF supporters had blocked Jawaharlal Nehru Road at Esplanade on Saturday afternoon, demanding the arrest of Trinamul Congress leader Arabul Islam for allegedly spearheading an attack on party workers. Cops came under attack when they tried to remove the blockade.
