Tamluk, Feb. 6: Police in Nandigram today lathicharged Trinamul supporters protesting the arrest of a party leader picked up during an Election Commission-prescribed drive to put behind bars those against whom non-bailable warrants are pending.

This morning, Roshan Ali was arrested “in connection with cases of murder” during the Nandigram movement of 2007. The police had gone to Nandigram as part of a drive to arrest 1,405 people accused of involvement in the Nandigram agitation.

In the evening, hundreds of Trinamul supporters organised a protest in front of a police camp in Nandigram’s Girir Bazaar. The police resorted to lathicharge to disperse the mob. Ten Trinamul supporters suffered injuries. Biswajit Pramanik, a nine-year-old boy who was passing by, was left with a fractured arm.

Trinamul supporters blocked all approach roads to Nandigram with tree trunks this evening to stop the police from entering the area.

Yesterday, villagers blowing conch shells and shouting slogans had surrounded Nandigram and prevented the police from carrying out the raid.

The police have stepped up state-wide raids after the poll panel asked the forces to execute non-bailable warrants and seize illegal arms.