Cops arrest Bangla Paksha’s Garga for ‘EVM protest call’ on result day

Kolkata: Garga Chatterjee, founder of Bangla Paksha and a faculty member of psychology at ISI, was arrested from Deshapriya Park on Tuesday by Kolkata Police's cyber cell after being accused of making "provocative and inciting posts" and spreading misinformation on social media, aiding the spread of fake news. "The DEO North had alleged that Garga Chatterjee had made posts regarding EVM tampering, which had triggered public reaction. He was summoned twice but did not appear. He has now been arrested," said Kolkata Police commissioner Ajay Nand.According to sources, the DEO Kolkata (North) lodged a complaint against Chatterjee with the cyber crime wing on May 2. "The complaint relates to a Facebook post allegedly uploaded by Chatterjee, wherein false claims were made regarding tampering of EVMs stored at Netaji Indoor Stadium. The post also called upon political groups and the public to assemble and protest, thereby creating potential for panic, public unrest and disturbance of law and order," a cop said. "During the election period, Chatterjee repeatedly questioned the functioning of EVMs and raised doubt over the counting process. He publicly asked why certain EVMs were reportedly malfunctioning during counting despite being sealed and secured overnight. He also claimed that the EC had ‘certain plans later in the day'. On social media, he urged voters to carefully check the VVPAT slips before leaving the polling booths," an EC source said. EC, however, said the polling and counting processes were conducted transparently and securely in accordance with established guidelines.Chatterjee may be presented in court on Wednesday and cops are likely to seek police custody."He raised some fake claims about EVM tampering on May 3. He called upon political groups to launch agitations in this regard. This aided rumour-mongering. We then initiated a case and sent him notices twice to join the investigation. He did not comply. The police took action on their own initiative. Related complaints are also being added," said Nand. Nand said Chatterjee was not carrying any firearm or ammunition. Sources said a PSO was detained along with Chatterjee. The cop was released later. "A cop from Baruipur, who was accompanying him, was found in possession of cartridges," Nand said. Several persons, including pro-Bengali organizations and Trinamool MP Sagarika Ghose, spoke up in favour of Chaterjee. "Shocking that Chatterjee, of the group Bangla Paksha...has been arrested. Is it now a crime to take up the cause of Bengalis?" Ghose wrote on X."Garg Da's arrest is for fighting for the rights of Bengalis and Bengali culture," said Siddhabrata Das of The National Bengal Conference.