CPI(ML) Red Star leader sent to police custody for 10 days

CPI(ML) Red Star leader Alik Chakraborty, who was arrested in Bhubaneswar by a West Bengal Police team on charges under the stringent UAPA, was produced before a court here today and sent to police custody for 10 days.

Chakraborty, who has been leading an agitation against the Power Grid Corporation of India Limited in Bhangar in South 24 Parganas district of West Bengal for the past few years, was brought here by the police on a transit remand from Bhubaneswar.

He was produced before the sub divisional magistrate's court at Baruipur in the district.

The police said he has been charged with instigating and deliberately misinforming villagers of Bhangar, which witnessed violent clashes against the PGCIL's proposed unit on 16 acres.

Chakrabarty, who is in his mid-40s, was arrested from near a private hospital in Bhubaneswar on Thursday.

The West Bengal government has registered cases under Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and murder against Chakraborty, who is one of the leaders of 'Jomi Jibika Poribesh o Bastutantra Raksha Samiti' (committee for protection of land, livelihood, environment and ecology).