Nandigram/Kolkata: West Bengal Pradesh Congress Committee general secretary Subhasish Bhattacharya, who was picked up by East Midnapore police along with Nandigram bypoll candidate Milan Pradhan on Friday afternoon, alleged on Saturday that they were taken to a resort in Mandarmani blindfolded, where police pressured them to withdraw Pradhan’s nomination.While Pradhan was arrested in connection with cases dating back to 2007, Bhattacharya was released on a personal recognisance (PR) bond from Chandipur police station at 3 am on Saturday.Election Commission said no specific complaint had been lodged regarding the incident.Bhattacharya told reporters: “The cops picked us up… and blindfolded us. In separate cars, we were taken to Mandarmani and put up in a resort. There, an SDPO asked me to tell Milan to take back his nomination. When I said no, he said Milan had said if I asked him to do it, he would. I said ‘slap UAPA on me, slap UAPA on Milan too… if required, we will fight for Congress from jail’.”Referring to the events, Bhattacharya continued: “I said ‘whatever pressure you exert, we will not succumb, we will fight BJP. Nandigram will pave the way for a completely different fight.’ When nothing worked, they brought us back to Chandipur around 2.45 am. By then, party workers and senior netas had reached Chandipur police station. The police made me sign a personal bond and let me go.”AICC Bengal in-charge Prakash Joshi claimed that Pradhan was tortured on Friday night. “The police pressured him to withdraw and even tried to bribe him but he refused to yield,” he said.Mamata Trinamool also joined the attack. “Where is Nandigram candidate Milan Pradhan after being picked up from a hotel? When MCC (Model Code of Conduct) is in effect, the police administration is under the direct superintendence and control of EC. What kind of Gestapo land is this?” MP Mahua Moitra posted on X.EC’s general observer for Nandigram bypoll, Santosh Das, said he was not aware of the reported incident. “I have not received any official complaint from any political party on this matter,” Das said.Attempts to contact Nandigram police observer M B Boralingaiah were unsuccessful as his phone was switched off. East Midnapore police superintendent Angshuman Saha did not respond to calls or text messages.An official said no complaint regarding the incident had been submitted to the office of the Chief Electoral Officer till 6.30 pm on Saturday.
