7 accused remanded to police custody

Kolkata: The seven persons who were arrested from Benaras in connection with the murder of Manoj Upadhyay, were remanded to police custody for 14 days after being produced before Chandannagar court on Thursday.

Manoj, chairman of Bhadreswar Municipality, was shot dead when he was returning home on November 21 late in the night.

The police arrested Raju Chowdhury, Ratan Chowdhury, Krishna Chowdhury, Akash Chowdhury, Rajesh Chowdhury, Santosh Prasad and Debu Pakre on Monday night and they were produced before the ACJM Joyshankar Roy of Chandannagar Court.

They were produced before the court amidst tight security as the police had an apprehension that locals, in huge numbers, will be gathering at the spot. Hundreds assembled outside the court premises and shouted slogans when the accused were taken inside in a police van.

Supporters of Manoj were found standing with posters demanding death sentence of the accused.

They shouted slogans demanding arrest of prime accused Raju Sahu, who is an Independent Councillor.

At one time, the situation worsened when the mob attempted to enter the premises of the court. The police somehow managed to control the situation.

Expressing his concern, the ACJM said the incident is one of its kind that has caused a stir in society.

The police initiated questioning the accused and are trying to know if they are aware about the whereabouts of Raju, who had been at large since the day of the incident.

After questioning them for the next few days, the police will be taking them to the spot where the incident took place for reconstruction of the plot, sources said. So the police are interrogating them to know that which route they had taken to reach the spot where Manoj was shot dead and since when had they been waiting there for the victim's arrival.