Asansol clash over Congress leader's arrest

ASANSOL: Locals heckled a team of policemen when they went to arrest Rabiul Islam, the Congress mayor-in-council of Asansol Municipal Corporation, on Masjid Bari Lane on Monday.
Earlier, Asansol South police arrested Jitendra Tewari, Trinamool chairman of Asansol Municipal Corporation, from his house at Damra and raided the house of the mayor, Trinamool leader Tapas Banerjee.
An FIR had been lodged by Biswajit Dutta, the Asansol ADM, at Hirapur police station on November 26 against Banerjee and Tewari, among others, for "manhandling" him.
West Bengal State Electricity Distribution Company Ltd (WBSEDCL) had cut off the electric connection at the Kalajharia pump house in Hirapur over outstanding dues of Rs 15 crore.The leaders had gone to meet the ADM when someone allegedly manhandled him.
On Monday, a huge police force arrested Tewari. Later, they also raided Banerjee's home, but the mayor was not in town. Around 9.30 am, the team went to arrest Rabiul, but locals pushed them back by throwing stones.
Tewari said: "Why did WBSEDCL not cut off the electricity during the tenure of the previous board? Why are they active only now?"