Bhubaneswar: The SDJM court here Friday allowed West Bengal police to take Leftist leader, Alik Chakraborty, on four-day transit remand.
Chakraborty was arrested here in a joint operation by West Bengal and state police Thursday. He was undergoing treatment at a city hospital when he was arrested.
The West Bengal police had sought five-day remand.
The CPI ML (Redstar) leader has been spearheading a campaign against the Power Grid at Bhangar in South 24 Parganas in West Bengal. He has around 70 cases, including murder, registered against him.
The state unit of the CPI ML (Redstar) staged protest before the SDJM court and the Deputy Commissioner office at Vani Vihar demanding immediate release of Chakraborty. It also expressed discontent over terming of Chakraborty as a hardcore Naxalite leader.
Odisha State secretary of the party, Shivamani said, “He has been wrongfully accused in the cases due to the agitation. Our party is registered with the Election Commission of India and we abhor the violent ways adopted by the Naxalites. Seven candidates of CPI ML (Redstar) won in the recent Panchayat elections in West Bengal.
“Due to the huge number of cases registered against him by the ruling party in West Bengal, it is difficult for him to get treated in Kolkata, so he often comes here for treatment,” he said.
Meanwhile, DCP Anup Sahu clarified that Chakrborty does not belong to any Naxalite group. He is involved in a movement against a power sub-station unit in Bhangar. He said that the West Bengal police had sought help in arresting Chakrborty. His involvement in ultra Leftist movements in Odisha will be ascertained after investigation.