Man detained with pistol at CPM headquarters

kolkata, April 28 There was a panic at the CPM headquarters on Alimuddin Street today after the police detained three persons, with one of them turning out to be in possession of a pistol. However, the man, Suresh Sharma, was later identified as a party leader from Madhya Pradesh. After the incident, security at the party headquarters was tightened. Sharma and the other two were later released.

The trio —- Suresh Sharma (31), Giriraj Sharma (29) and Vicky Prasad (22) —- was roaming around the CPM party office at around 10.20 am when a few locals and party cadres apprehended them for questioning. They were immediately handed over to the policemen standing near the party office.

The trio was later brought to Taltolla police station and was interrogated there.

The sleuths found a 0.32 bore pistol on Suresh. They also came to know that Suresh and his brother Giriraj were residents of Bhind in Madhya Pradesh and the third man Vicky was a resident of Karbala Maidan Street in Kolkata.

As news of the incident spread, panic struck the party headquarters.

Top bosses were provided security and additional police personnel were posted at the party headquarters.

Suresh and Giriraj had arrived in the city recently and had bought the pistol at Kossipur Gun and Shell factory on April 25. They also had a license to carry the weapon.

“Suresh is the zonal secretary of DYFI in Bhind. He took his friend Vicky along with him to visit Alimuddin Street,” said an officer of Taltolla police station.

“We were alert. The three persons were detained after we found a pistol in their possession. However, they produced a license and explained why they were in the city. We released them later,” said Ajay Ranade, deputy commissioner of police, central.