JUP chief Humayun Kabir's son detained for 'assaulting' policeman, released after 8 hours

Kolkata: Janata Unnayan Party (JUP) chief Humayun Kabir's son Golam Nabi Azad was on Sunday detained for allegedly attacking a policeman posted at their residence in West Bengal's Murshidabad district, an officer said.

Later, Azad was released after eight hours of detention, he said.

The Trinamool Congress said Azad, better known as Sohel, committed a cognisable offence by raising a hand on the policeman, who was posted as a personal security officer (PSO) of Bharatpur MLA Kabir, and police took action as per the law, while claiming that the ruling party has nothing to do with it.

Sohel was detained on the basis of a complaint lodged with Shaktipur police station by Constable Jumma Khan, alleging that the legislator's son assaulted him this morning when he applied for a few days' leave, the senior police officer said.

"On the basis of the complaint, the accused has been detained for questioning. The matter is being investigated, and necessary legal action will be taken," he told PTI.

Later, the MLA's son was released after eight hours of detention, according to the police.

Kabir, who floated his party after being suspended from the TMC and laid the foundation stone for a Babri Masjid-style mosque in Muslim-majority Murshidabad, claimed that police had cordoned off his residence in Shaktipur area following the incident.

Kabir, who had announced that his party would contest the upcoming assembly elections in the state, was away from his residence for some work when the incident happened.

"My son objected to the entry of a policeman inside my house today, and this angered the law enforcers who levelled false allegations against my son, accusing him of misbehaviour," he told reporters in Berhampore.

Kabir alleged that he was being targeted by the police at the behest of the Trinamool Congress.

Later, coming out of the Shaktipur PS, Kabir told reporters that the police constable concerned was disrespectful towards him and his son, and barged into his residence, demanding he be granted leave, which infuriated his son Sohel.

"Now, as my son has been detained, I will take legal action and take my future step in consultation with lawyers. I am not afraid and have faced similar persecution during the CPIM regime. It is pathetic that the ruling TMC has stooped so low. They can even frame me, but they cannot intimidate me. I will continue to fight the TMC politically with people's support," he said.

A police force cannot cordon off the house of an elected representative under "flimsy pretext", the MLA said earlier.

"I will gherao the SP's office in Murshidabad on January 1 in protest against this harassment. The police action is politically motivated. I demand an explanation from senior police officers and administration officials about today's incident. They cannot intimidate me," Kabir said.

The legislator said his son was detained "in an illegal manner and under false charges", and demanded his immediate release.

TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty said, as per information available with the party, Kabir's son pushed the police constable when he went inside the house seeking leave for some personal work.

"Kabir's son has committed a cognisable offence by raising a hand on a policeman. And police have taken action as per the law. The party has nothing to do with it," Chakraborty said.

Kabir laid the foundation stone for a mosque modelled on Babri Masjid on December 6, a day after being suspended from the TMC.

Later, he floated the JUP, and announced the new party would contest 182 of the 294 assembly seats in the polls due early next year.

He further expressed his desire to form an electoral alliance with Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi's AIMIM.

He also accused West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of doing nothing for the uplift of Muslims and only pursuing "appeasement politics" since coming to power in 2011.