Kurmi leader arrested in Abhishek Banerjee convoy attack, total of 10 in custody

The Criminal Investigation Department (CID) of the West Bengal Police has made another arrest in connection with the attack on Trinamool Congress national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee's convoy.

The arrested person, identified as Dhananjay Mahato alias Joy, brings the total number of arrests in the case to 10. Among the arrested individuals are Rajesh Mahto and Nishikant Mahto, prominent leaders of the Kurmi movement in the state. The Kurmis have been demanding Scheduled Tribe status in West Bengal.

Dhananjay Mahato is currently in judicial custody, and the CID will present him in court in West Midnapore district today, seeking further legal proceedings. The CID has also obtained permission from the trial court to interrogate the arrested Kurmi leaders at the reform home where they are currently detained.

The attack on Abhishek Banerjee's convoy occurred shortly after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP and the central government of inciting caste violence in West Bengal, particularly targeting Kurmis against other tribal communities in the state. Following the incident, Rajesh Mahto, a government school teacher, was transferred from his village and subsequently arrested. Nishikant Mahato, a close aide of Rajesh Mahto, was also arrested soon after.

Rajesh Mahto has alleged that the entire incident is a conspiracy orchestrated by the state government to eradicate the existence of Kurmis in West Bengal. He has demanded a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) investigation to uncover the true conspirators behind the attack on Abhishek Banerjee's convoy. The investigation by the CID continues as they delve into the details of the case.