Kolkata, 28 May (H.S.): In a dramatic police action being described locally as the “Bermuda Model,” the police on Thursday paraded arrested Trinamool Congress youth leader Boni through several areas of Bijpur with a rope tied around his waist. Dressed in a sleeveless vest and Bermuda shorts, the accused was taken around the locality amid loud slogans of “chor-chor” raised by residents.
According to police sources, the accused was taken to Ward No. 3 of Bijpur Municipality on Thursday as part of the ongoing investigation. Before that, he was also taken to the Kanchrapara area. Earlier on Monday, police had taken him to railway police quarters and the Nabin Pally locality in connection with the probe.
The police said Boni had allegedly wielded significant influence over railway police quarters in the area, reportedly deciding who could stay there. Authorities also suspect that various anti-social activities were being carried out from those premises.
Responding to the allegations, Boni claimed, “Those who committed the theft have fled. I did not steal anything, which is why I am still here.”
Boni had first gained political attention during the 2024 Lok Sabha elections in the Barrackpore constituency after a video of his heated argument with BJP candidate Arjun Singh went viral on social media. Local political observers claim that his political influence and activities in the region increased rapidly after the incident.
Sources alleged that Boni subsequently rose quickly within the Trinamool Congress and later developed close contacts with influential political circles linked to former Bijpur MLA Subodh Adhikari and MP Partha Bhowmik after differences reportedly emerged with associates of Kanchrapara Municipality chairman Kamal Adhikari.
Following the change of government in the state, Bijpur police arrested Boni in connection with an old firearms-related case. Police sources said he was apprehended from Mandarmani.
Earlier, police had similarly paraded notorious criminal Akash Singh, known as the “terror of North Howrah,” through narrow lanes while dressed in a sleeveless vest and underwear. Since taking charge as Chief Minister, Suvendu Adhikari has repeatedly stated that the police would follow a “zero tolerance” policy against anti-social activities. Since then, police have intensified crackdowns on alleged criminals and local strongmen across the state.
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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey
