Nawsad held; Cong team stopped at Nazat

Kolkata: ISF leader Nawsad Siddique was arrested in Kolkata on Tuesday while he was attempting to go to Sandeshkhali. He was later released on bail. Siddique, who was stopped near Science City, argued with cops that he could not be halted in Pragati Maidan police station area, 62 km from Sandeshkhali, where Section 144 had been imposed. “I was not even shown the grounds for arrest,” Siddique said.A Congress delegation led by Soumya Aich Roy was stopped before Nazat. “We did not break Section 144. Despite that, they stopped us at Akhratala,” he said. Party workers staged a dharna.CPM plans to reach Sandeshkhali on Thursday with its former MLA Nirapada Sardar, . CPM state secretary Md Salim said: “Govt is preventing the opposition from raising its voice as the speaker and deputy speaker had done when Sardar raised the torture in the Bengal assembly.” The CPM leader condemned Siddique’s arrest. Pradesh Congress president Adhir Chowdhury said: “Police are preventing the opposition and welcoming TMC ministers.”Some members of civil society with Left leanings reached Sandeshkhali. “We want govt to release the arrested villagers because they are poor people and can’t bear court expenses,” said actor Badshah Moitra.