Asansol Violence: FIR against Union Minister Babul Supriyo for rioting, assaulting cope

BJP MP and Minister of State for Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises Babul Supriyo has been booked for rioting and assaulting an IPS officer in West Bengal’s Asansol, where violence erupted over Ram Navami procession.

“He (Babul Supriyo) has been booked under section of Rioting and 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty)”, the Indian Express quoted a senior police official as saying.

Inspector-in-Charge of Asansol North Police station IC Debojyoti Saha filed suo-moto FIR against Supriyo for violating Section 144 of the CrPC imposed in Asansol and assaulting a senior IPS officer Rupesh Kumar.

Earlier in the day, the BJP MP was barred from entering the violence-hit Asansol. He then entered into a scuffle with a senior police officer and asked him to stay. The minister then also hit a policeman who was trying to stop his car, according to reports.

A group of people shouted slogans against the minister and demanded that he immediately leave the area, reported news agency PTI.

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“As local MP, it is my responsibility to stand by people who are in trouble but police without any reason stopped me to meet people. As a minister, if police tells me not to enter a area citing prohibitory orders I will not break that rule. Law and order is a state subject. I respect that but this is not acceptable,” the English daily quoted Supriyo as saying.

Reacting to the incident, TMC leader and state minister Subrata Mukherjee said that people trying to create trouble will not get any benefit from the provocation related politics.

“Police is doing their work, provocation related politics will be of no help to people and they should understand that. Those who are creating trouble for the state and people will not get any benefit out of it,” Mukherjee said.

Meanwhile, the situation in Raniganj and Asansol remained tensed and internet services were suspended till March 30 following communal clashes between two groups on Sunday and Monday over Ram Navami procession.