TMC Councillor Held as Key Conspirator in Ram Navami Clashes
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Wednesday named arrested Trinamool Congress (TMC) councillor Shakir Ali as the “main conspirator” who allegedly instigated a mob during the Ram Navami violence in Rishra, West Bengal, in April 2023. The agency also stated that 36 rounds of cartridges were recovered from his residence in Serampore.
A special court in Kolkata remanded Ali to NIA custody for two days after the agency sought his custody for further interrogation. Ali, the husband of former TMC MP Aparupa Poddar, was arrested on Tuesday following a six-hour search and questioning at his Rishra home.
The communal clashes erupted on April 2, 2023, during a Ram Navami procession in Rishra and Serampore, leading to several injuries and damage to property. The NIA took over the investigation from the state police, citing the case's inter-state and communal implications. The agency alleges that Ali played a central role in orchestrating the violence.
Ali's arrest has sparked political reactions, with the TMC accusing the central government of using the NIA to target opposition leaders. The agency, however, maintains that its actions are based on evidence gathered during the probe.
