Former Naihati municipality chairman Ashok Chattopadhyay arrested in 2025 violence case

Former Naihati Municipality chairman and Trinamool Congress leader Ashok Chattopadhyay was arrested by police on Wednesday in connection with a 2025 case related to the alleged assault on BJP workers and vandalism of their houses.

Police officials said Chattopadhyay was taken to the local police station for questioning after his arrest. He is expected to be produced before the Barrackpore court later in the day. Further details of the investigation were not immediately available.

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According to police sources, Chattopadhyay’s name had figured in a case registered over the alleged attack on BJP workers and damage to their properties during political violence in 2025.

Earlier, his son had also been arrested in connection with the same case. Following the change of government in West Bengal, Chattopadhyay and several councillors of the Trinamool Congress-run Naihati Municipality had stopped attending the civic body’s office. Their absence reportedly disrupted municipal services, with several administrative and public welfare activities remaining stalled for weeks.

In May this year, Chattopadhyay made a surprise visit to the municipality office after a prolonged absence. The visit, however, triggered protests by BJP supporters. He had then alleged that a group of BJP workers surrounded him inside the municipal premises and staged a demonstration demanding action against him.

The former civic chief claimed he had visited the municipality at the request of the local MLA. According to his allegations, the protesters became aggressive after he mentioned the MLA’s request and forcibly pushed him out of the office.

He also alleged that some municipal employees were assaulted after protesters entered the municipal office and the adjoining maternity hospital premises. The BJP had, however, maintained that the protest reflected public anger over the alleged attacks on its workers during the previous regime.

With Chattopadhyay’s arrest, the investigation into the political violence case has gathered fresh momentum. Police are continuing their probe, and further legal proceedings will follow after his production before the Barrackpore court.