Saurabh Mukherjee
The arrest of CPI(M) leader Md Lahek Ali in connection with the violence that erupted after the alleged rape and murder of an 11-year-old girl in West Bengal's Baruipur has triggered a political confrontation, with Left parties accusing the state government of targeting opposition leaders.
Ali, 45, a private tutor by profession and a former CPI(M) candidate from the Baruipur Paschim Assembly constituency, was arrested by the West Bengal Police on Sunday night on charges of inciting the mob violence and lynching that followed the incident earlier this month.
“This is political vendetta by the ruling party. After the incident, when police reached the spot, Lahek also went there. Videos clearly show that he was trying to pacify the crowd along with the police. But the ruling party is trying to instil fear among our leaders through such actions. Even before an investigation is complete, someone is being declared guilty. That is not the rule of law. It appears the BJP is following the TMC in this regard,” CPI(M) Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty told The Indian Express.
The violence broke out following public outrage over the alleged rape and murder of the minor girl. During the unrest, a youth was lynched, protesters allegedly attacked police personnel, set police vehicles on fire, blocked roads and disrupted rail services by staging a sit-in on railway tracks.
A Baruipur court rejected Ali's bail plea and remanded him to eight days of police custody. His lawyer argued that the charges against him were fabricated and politically motivated.
The police arrested Ali in connection with the violence that followed protests over the crime in Surjyapur in South 24 Parganas district. The girl's body was recovered from a pond on July 5, a day after she had gone missing while reportedly stepping out to buy a birthday gift for a friend.
Ali had contested the 2021 and 2026 Assembly elections from Baruipur Paschim, finishing third in both contests. He secured 25,639 votes in 2021, behind the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and 23,479 votes in 2026. The constituency has been represented by TMC leader Biman Banerjee since 2011.
According to his election affidavit, Ali and his wife possess Rs 5,000 in cash. He declared ownership of a 217 sq ft non-agricultural plot valued at Rs 1 lakh and a two-wheeler worth Rs 84,000. His wife declared 25 grams of gold worth around Rs 4 lakh. Together, the couple reported bank deposits and cash totalling Rs 8.48 lakh. The affidavit also states that Ali has no criminal antecedents. He holds a Master's degree in Arts from Rabindra Bharati University and is regarded as a popular local leader.
The arrest has also drawn criticism from the Congress, which accused the authorities of suppressing democratic dissent.
“We strongly protest and condemn the arrest of CPI(M) leader Lahek Ali. People protesting against a rape and murder is a normal feature of a democracy. The police are trying to silence such voices by filing false cases. It shows the BJP government is scared of public protests. We demand his immediate release,” state Congress chief Shubhankar Sarkar said.
The case has further intensified the political battle in West Bengal, with opposition parties alleging misuse of law enforcement while the police continue their investigation into the violence.
Ali, 45, a private tutor by profession and a former CPI(M) candidate from the Baruipur Paschim Assembly constituency, was arrested by the West Bengal Police on Sunday night on charges of inciting the mob violence and lynching that followed the incident earlier this month.
“This is political vendetta by the ruling party. After the incident, when police reached the spot, Lahek also went there. Videos clearly show that he was trying to pacify the crowd along with the police. But the ruling party is trying to instil fear among our leaders through such actions. Even before an investigation is complete, someone is being declared guilty. That is not the rule of law. It appears the BJP is following the TMC in this regard,” CPI(M) Central Committee member Sujan Chakraborty told The Indian Express.
The violence broke out following public outrage over the alleged rape and murder of the minor girl. During the unrest, a youth was lynched, protesters allegedly attacked police personnel, set police vehicles on fire, blocked roads and disrupted rail services by staging a sit-in on railway tracks.
A Baruipur court rejected Ali's bail plea and remanded him to eight days of police custody. His lawyer argued that the charges against him were fabricated and politically motivated.
The police arrested Ali in connection with the violence that followed protests over the crime in Surjyapur in South 24 Parganas district. The girl's body was recovered from a pond on July 5, a day after she had gone missing while reportedly stepping out to buy a birthday gift for a friend.
Ali had contested the 2021 and 2026 Assembly elections from Baruipur Paschim, finishing third in both contests. He secured 25,639 votes in 2021, behind the BJP and the Trinamool Congress (TMC), and 23,479 votes in 2026. The constituency has been represented by TMC leader Biman Banerjee since 2011.
According to his election affidavit, Ali and his wife possess Rs 5,000 in cash. He declared ownership of a 217 sq ft non-agricultural plot valued at Rs 1 lakh and a two-wheeler worth Rs 84,000. His wife declared 25 grams of gold worth around Rs 4 lakh. Together, the couple reported bank deposits and cash totalling Rs 8.48 lakh. The affidavit also states that Ali has no criminal antecedents. He holds a Master's degree in Arts from Rabindra Bharati University and is regarded as a popular local leader.
The arrest has also drawn criticism from the Congress, which accused the authorities of suppressing democratic dissent.
“We strongly protest and condemn the arrest of CPI(M) leader Lahek Ali. People protesting against a rape and murder is a normal feature of a democracy. The police are trying to silence such voices by filing false cases. It shows the BJP government is scared of public protests. We demand his immediate release,” state Congress chief Shubhankar Sarkar said.
The case has further intensified the political battle in West Bengal, with opposition parties alleging misuse of law enforcement while the police continue their investigation into the violence.
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