Jhargram police Monday made another arrest in connection with the attack on TMC MP Abhishek Banerjee’s convoy during his Jana Sanjog Yatra on May 26 (Friday), which also left West Bengal minister Birbaha Hansda injured. The accused, Nishikant Mahato, was one of the popular faces of the recent Kudmi agitation in West Bengal where the community was protesting to demand a Scheduled Tribe (ST) status. The Kudmis are currently classified as OBC in West Bengal. With Monday's arrest, the number of persons held in connection with the case reached nine. “So far, nine persons have been arrested in the case. The CID has taken over the probe in the case,” said a police official. Sources said Nishikant was a close aide of another Kudmi leader Rajesh Mahato who was arrested on Sunday. Meanwhile, BJP’s national vice-president Dilip Ghosh said, “If the state government thinks that they can play with the sentiments of the people of Kudmi community, there will be a fire at the tribal-dominated pockets in Junglemahal area.” Reacting to his comment, TMC MP Santanu Sen said, “The BJP is unable to digest Abhishek Banerjee's popularity and hence is making such statements.”
