Weapons in religious rally: 7 including 3 BJP workers arrested

Seven persons including three BJP workers were arrested late on Tuesday night on charges of brandishing arms while taking part in a rally that took place near Tala in North Kolkata.

Police said that a religious rally was organised near Tala Bridge on Tuesday. There were around 300 who joined the rally. Suddenly, a section of the participants started displaying weapons including swords, choppers and daggers. A case in this connection was lodged with Chitpore police station and the police initiated a probe.

The six of the seven arrested persons are FIR name accused and they were arrested when the police conducted raids late last night.

Police initiated a case against them under different sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) on charges of rioting armed with deadly weapon (148 IPC), unlawful assembly (149) and promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence and language and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony. They were also booked under different sections of the Arms Act.

If one is found guilty on charges of rioting when armed with deadly weapons, then the punishment may extend to imprisonment for three years.

Meanwhile, three persons were arrested on Tuesday in connection with the scuffle that broke out between some people who were taking part in a rally in Suri and the police. They were remanded to judicial custody.