TMC Youth Leader Saayoni Ghosh Arrested and later Bailed in Tripura

Trinamool Youth Congress President Saayoni Ghosh was arrested by Tripura Police on charges of promoting enmity between people, attempt to murder, criminal intimidation and criminal conspiracy. An FIR was registered against her at the East Agartala Police Station for allegedly disturbing a municipal poll rally of Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb at Ashram Chowmuhani area on Sunday and was granted bail by the West Tripura Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s (CJM) Court for a bail bond of Rs 20,000 today.

Sub-divisional Police Officer (Sadar) Ramesh Yadav said Saayoni Ghosh was arrested under IPC Sections 307 (attempt to murder) and 153A (promoting disharmony between two groups) for her comments against the chief minister.

Ramesh Yadav said some persons who were with her allegedly threw stones at a street corner meeting which was being addressed by the chief minister. A police official, who did not want to be named, said a BJP worker lodged a complaint alleging that Ghosh had reached the spot where the meeting was being held and shouted “Khela hobey” (a famous slogan used by TMC) and claimed that there were not even 50 people in the gathering. Saayoni Ghosh was earlier detained for questioning in a police station and arrested later.

General Secretary of Trinamool Congress Abhishek Banerjee in a tweet accused the BJP government in the North-eastern state of disregarding Supreme Court orders on the rights of political parties to hold peaceful programs.

TMC Rajya Sabha MP Sushmita Deb claimed that BJP sheltered goons attacked the leaders and workers of the party on the premises of the police station after Ghosh reached there.

“Our candidates were beaten up; their houses vandalized and though complaints were filed, no action was taken. Police here are acting in a one-sided manner,” she told reports.

Trinamool Congress supremo and West Bengal chief minister Mamata Banerjee stood by her party’s workers in Tripura and said she would discuss the issue of violence with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during her proposed meeting with him in New Delhi later this week.

The lawyer representing Ghosh at the Agartala court, Shankar Lodh said, “After considering all circumstances, records and case diary, the court observed there are no grounds for section 307 IPC and 153A IPC. On the condition that she has to cooperate with the investigating agency and one surety of Rs.20,000, she was granted bail.”

Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress general secretary Abhishek Banerjee visited Tripura on Monday and said his party has moved the Supreme Court, bringing allegations of contempt of court against BJP.

“What wrong did Ghosh say? She said ‘khela hobe’ (game is on). Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also said the same thing in Bengal. Moreover, Modi, while chanting the same slogan, had targeted CM Mamata Banerjee in an unacceptable manner. Was that not criminal intimidation? But we shall not walk in the steps of BJP. There is a basic difference between us and them,” Banerjee said.

Meanwhile, a case was registered against West Bengal minister Firhad Hakim for allegedly saying that five BJP supporters would be killed in Bengal for every Trinamool Congress activist hurt in Tripura.

A senior Tripura cop said a case was lodged at Sonamura police station in Sepahijala district under Section 506 of the IPC. “Investigation is on. Permission will be taken from the court before registering an FIR,” he said.