Trinamool leader sent to custody for carrying arms at airport

A Trinamool Congress leader, who was arrested for trying to board a Chennai-bound flight at the airport here with an unlicensed revolver and three rounds of cartridges, was on Monday sent to a day's police custody by a court.

Naren Chakraborty, a senior Trinamool leader of Burdwan district, was arrested under the Arms Act on Sunday evening after he was caught by personnel of the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) posted at the check-in point of the Netaji Subhas Chandra Bose International Airport.

Chakraborty, also a top functionary of the Burdwan zila parishad, was allegedly found carrying the revolver and the cartridges, and could not show any valid licences. He was later handed over to the airport police station.

Chakraborty was on Monday presented before a lower court, with the prosecution praying for a three-day police remand to check how he procured the gun and the ammunition.

On the other hand, the defence counsel claimed that Chakraborty was framed by unscrupulous people who "planted" the revolver and the ammunition in his bag.

"We asked for three days of police custody. The court, after considering all aspects, allowed a day's police remand," said a government lawyer.

The court also asked the investigating officer to produce the case diary on Tuesday, when Chakraborty will again be presented before the court.

According to police, Chakraborty had taken a chopper from Andal airport on Sunday afternoon and descended at the NSCBIA airport to catch an evening flight to Chennai.