The state secretary of the Aam Janata Unnayan Party, headed by Humayun Kabir, has been arrested in West Bengal’s Murshidabad district with a large quantity of fake currency and illegal arms, police said on Saturday.
Ashik Iqbal was arrested late on Friday night during vehicle checking at a police picket in Murshidabad district’s Hariharpara, an official said, adding that another person travelling with Iqbal was also held. The Baharampur police on Saturday also sent a notice to the AJUP chief, directing him to appear before investigating officers on Monday in a case registered over an alleged conspiracy to foment tension between two communities. Police claimed the conversation indicated a possible conspiracy to instigate tension between two communities.
An SUV was intercepted near the Garinama area, and its checking led to the recovery of 108 counterfeit notes of Rs 500 denomination, two firearms and four rounds of ammunition, according to police. Interestingly, an Independent candidate for the Rejinagar Assembly bypoll was arrested on Saturday in a five-year-old case of a clash between two groups during the 2021 state elections, police said. A senior officer said the case was registered on September 14 after police recently released an audio recording during a press conference in Berhampore.
A senior police officer said the arrests were made during a routine checking operation and the source as well as the intended use of the fake currency and weapons were being investigated.
