Park Circus case: Police probe ‘top Trinamool neta’ connection

Kolkata: In a major breakthrough in the probe into last Sunday's violent clashes at the Park Circus intersection — that left six cops injured and three vehicles vandalised — Kolkata Police has uncovered a "planned plot" orchestrated by the organisers, with a local political functionary, allegedly from Trinamool, playing a crucial role. Cops are preparing to summon him soon. "We are certain this was a calculated attack on law enforcement, backed by digital footprints and WhatsApp blueprints," said an officer.By Wednesday evening, the number of arrests in connection with the case rose to 50, after Beniapukur police and detective department ARS rounded up four more suspects using CCTV footage analysis. Reviewing multiple CCTV feeds, detectives claimed they initially zeroed in on the prime accused Faridul Islam, who was apprehended on Monday along with five key associates.Faridul was caught on camera pelting stones and inciting the mob, claimed cops. Upon seizing the mobile phones of the arrested core group, cyber experts stumbled upon numerous synchronised WhatsApp groups where the logistics of the protest — including specific gathering points, routes, and sourcing locations for stones — were meticulously discussed days in advance.Crucially, call detail records (CDR) of Faridul and his associates revealed relentless communication with a local political heavyweight, claimed sources.This neta was found to be in constant touch with the organisers 48 hours prior to the agitation, and especially on Saturday, just hours before the protest area morphed into a war zone. Lalbazar has secured critical digital evidence linking this politician to the violence.Cops claimed Faridul is being questioned on whether there were financiers behind the crime and whether he had "hired" outsiders to join the protest. "Among the persons whom we have identified from CCTV and arrested are Md Zuber Alam (19) of Nawada in Bihar, Md Aman (22) of Azamgarh in UP, Jamil Ansari (30) of Jamtara in Jharkhand, and Gulam Gaus (40) of Vaishali in Bihar.An unauthorised assembly at Park Circus on Sunday erupted in violence as the mob vandalised KP and CAPF vehicles. At least six cops and two CAPF personnel were injured. Cops said they will try to cover the losses from the accused according to legal norms by attaching their property and selling it. Faridul on Sunday said, "I did not call the protest. I saw the poster on social media. Since I was nearby, I attended it. After going there, I did not see anyone familiar. But it was a spontaneous protest against bulldozer action and how so many names were deleted from the electoral rolls due to SIR." He is a prominent face in No-NRC and Anti-SIR protests.