Kolkata, 12 May (H.S.): Bangla Pokkho founder Garga Chatterjee was arrested from the Deshapriya Park area in Kolkata, and 24 rounds of cartridges were allegedly recovered from his possession, police sources said on Tuesday.

The police have launched an investigation to ascertain how the cartridges were procured and whether they were intended for any unlawful activity. Chatterjee is being questioned and further legal proceedings are underway, sources added.

Bangla Pokkho has often courted controversy over its aggressive rhetoric against Hindi-speaking people in West Bengal and its campaigns centred around linguistic and regional identity. The organisation has repeatedly been accused by critics of using social media platforms to provoke sentiments against non-Bengali communities and deepen linguistic divisions in the state.

Several of the outfit’s online campaigns and statements had earlier triggered sharp political reactions and public criticism.

Political circles in the state have also frequently linked Chatterjee and some members of his organisation with the previous All India Trinamool Congress government, although no official confirmation regarding such ties has ever been made.

The arrest and the alleged recovery of ammunition have triggered fresh political debate in the state, while police said the matter is under detailed investigation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey