Ganatantrik Mahila Samiti members block NH 34. Picture by Surajit Roy

Malda, July 31: The CPM?s Ganatantrik Mahila Samiti has launched a campaign against Congress legislator Krishnendu Chowdhury for allegedly slapping a woman panchayat pradhan last Saturday.

Demanding his immediate arrest, the samiti members today blocked several roads in different parts of the town, including NH 34, in phases, throwing traffic out of gear. NH 34 was blocked for over three hours and the agitators cleared off only after police officials arrived at the spot and promised to arrest Chowdhury.

The incident reportedly occurred during a meeting at the office of the Englishbazar panchayat samiti, attended by 29 members of the samiti, 12 pradhans, two members of the zilla parishad and local MLA Chowdhury. The meeting was convened to discuss the annual plan of the samiti, a source said.

According to the source, those present at the meeting were bickering over the delay in finalising the budget of the samiti when Chowdhury tried to assault a member. Jyotsna Chowdhury, the pradhan of the Binodpur gram panchayat, who was sitting right next to Chowdhury, protested against his action and he reportedly turned around and slapped her.

The incident had occurred in the presence of block development officer Subhendu Basu. Jyotsna is currently undergoing treatment in the district hospital.

It was on the very same day that Jyotsna filed an FIR at the Englishbazar police station.

Former CPM legislator and senior member of the party?s town committee, Samar Roy, and the committee?s secretary, Indrajit Mitra, alleged today that Chowdhury was wanted in more than one murder case. ?Even the Bihar police are looking for him in connection with a double murder in that state,? Mitra said.

?He has the audacity to beat up a woman panchayat pradhan during an official meeting,? Mitra said. ?The police are not taking any action either, even after the woman had filed an FIR.?

Mitra wondered how the Congress MLA could go scot-free even after these complaints had been filed against him in writing. ?We are giving the police 72 hours to arrest the offender or else we will bring normal life to a standstill,? the CPM leader threatened.

Chowdhury, however, seemed least bothered about the entire episode. Brushing aside the allegation, he said: ?I did not beat her up, I am being implicated in a false case. With the Lok Sabha by-elections for Malda to be held shortly, the CPM is trying to cook up a political controversy involving the Congress.?

?The CPM has claimed that if I am not arrested, they will paralyse life in this town. I will see how they do it,? Chowdhury said.