WB spokesperson 'arrested' for posts against Mamata govt: Congress

Leer of Congress party in Lok Sabha hir Ranjan Chowdhury on Friday accused West Bengal Police of "arresting" party spokesperson Samanay Bandophyay for circulating posts critical of TMC government. Family members and Congress sources said Bandophyay was "arrested" by a team of Purulia district police from his home in rth 24 Parganas district on Thursday evening. West Bengal police and Purulia district police neir confirmed r denied having arrested or detained Bandophyay.

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"We will get back to you," a senior official of Purulia police said when inquired about alleged arrest.

Bandophyay is kwn for his staunch criticism of TMC government through his social media posts.

" arrest of Samanay Bandophyay is a classic example of intolerance of highest order. Samanay was arrested from his home for criticising state government. Such blatant attack on freedom of speech and expression by Trinamool Congress government will t stop us from protesting against ruling dispensation. "We condemn such undemocratic assault on freedom of speech and political terrorism unleashed by Mamata Banerjee government," Chowdhury said.

Reacting to allegations, senior TMC leer and party chief whip in state Assembly, Nirmal Ghosh said, "Samanay has been arrested as re were several criminal charges against him. It has thing to do with criticism of state government."

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BJP leership in state also slammed state government for arresting Congress leer for "criticizing state government". Family members of Samanay claimed that he was arrested on Thursday evening by a police team from Purulia. "y just came and took him away to Purulia on charges of circulating posts against state government," his bror Tanmay Bandophyay said.

CPI(M) and Congress activists on Friday std a protest rally outside Khardah police station against alleged arrest. Bandophyay's house at Sodepur falls under jurisdiction of Khardah police station. incident is reminiscent of arrest of Javpur University professor Ambikesh Mahapatra in April 2012 for posting cartoons of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on internet.

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