MLA’s petition in the court: Allegations of preventing the police from entering the constituency

Kolkata (IANS). The lone All India Secular Front (AISD) MLA from Bhangar assembly constituency in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on Monday filed a petition in the Calcutta High Court alleging that the state police prevented him from entering his own constituency.

Siddiqui’s lawyer Firdous Shamim, while filing the petition, accused the state police of being over-active in his client’s case. He also questioned the legal authority on the basis of which the state police can prevent an elected MLA from entering areas within the constituency from which he has been elected.

A single-judge bench of Calcutta High Court Justice Jay Sengupta has accepted the petition. The matter will be heard on any day during the current week.

Bhangar witnessed a lot of violence after June 8 was announced as the date for voting for the three-tier panchayat system. Four casualties were reported in Bhangar following clashes between supporters of the AISF and the ruling Trinamool Congress.

In a later phase, Section 144 was imposed in Bhangar.

On Sunday, as Siddiqui tried to enter his constituency, he was stopped by the police stationed there. The AISF MLA was also seen having a heated exchange with senior police officers present at the spot.

Even Siddiqui’s request to speak to senior police officers was turned down. Police officers present on the spot told the MLA that entry into Bhangar could not be allowed until further instructions were received from higher authorities in this regard.

Adamant, Siddiqui kept waiting there from Sunday morning till afternoon and finally retreated.

Finally, on Monday morning, he sought the intervention of the Calcutta High Court, accusing the police of deliberately preventing him from entering his own constituency.