AIMF President Idris Ali arrested

Kolkata, Nov 24 (UNI) Police today arrested the All India Minority Forum (AIMF) Ppresident Idris Ali in connection with the large-scale violence that erupted in the city on Novermber 21 over the demand for removal of controversial Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen.

Police Commissioner Gautam Mohan Charkraborty said a special investigating team of the detective department arrested Mr Ali and put him in lock-up.

He would be produced in the court tomorrow.

The special team has been asked to probe who were behind the abrupt violence that forced the Government to call the army and impose curfew in five police station areas.

Led by Mr Ali, the AIMF had called a three-hour shutdown in the city on Wednesday pressing for its demand. But the programme turned violent as hundreds of activists suddenly attacked people and fought day-long pitched battles, showering bricks and bottles and torching vehicles.

Mr Ali, who was also a Congress leader, had already been suspended from the party following the incident.

The PCC has also decided to serve him with a showcause notice asking to explain his role in the violence.

The party also declared that it had no links with the AIMF.

However, Mr Ali, who in league with the Jamait-e-Ulema-e-Hind, had been campaigning against Ms Nasreen's stay in the country, disowned his reponsibility for the violence.

He had alleged that some outsiders had infiltrated in the people taking part in the agitation and created disturbances as part of a conspiracy.

UNI