Borough chief faces murder-bid charges

Kolkata: Long-time councillor from Behala and Borough 16 chairman of KMC Sudip Polley is facing attempt-to-murder charges from police. Polley, the ward 123 councillor, had allegedly demanded Rs 5 lakh from a trader and assaulted him with an intention to murder when he refused to comply, police told a local court on Sunday. He has been sent to cop custody till May 29.Alipore Police Court public prosecutor Sourin Ghosal argued that Polley was an influential person with five cases of extortion and other criminal charges against him, three at Thakupukur PS and two at Haridevpur PS. "We sought police custody to ascertain how and where he parked the extortion money," said Ghosal. According to police records, the complaint alleged that on or before March 2006, the accused demanded Rs 5 lakh from Lalkamal Chandra (33) of Vidyasagar Colony for allowing him to continue his business. It was further alleged that when Chandra failed to pay, Polley and his associates assaulted him on James Long Sarani and also damaged his shop. Chandra said the accused assaulted him with bamboo sticks with an intention to murder him. Accordingly, section 308(4)/109 BNS has been added to the existing section of law, cops said. Earlier, there was tension at Alipore court when Polley was being produced there. On Sunday, shoes and eggs were reportedly thrown at the councillor, and he was called a "thief". Police increased their presence in large numbers to manage the situation."Sudip Polley organises the Barisha Club puja and various festivals in Behala. He assisted the Pahelgaon victim's family. Now he has been arrested. Where is the proof?" asked former CM Mamata Banerjee.