As police detained at least 5 persons in connection with defacing Kali idol at Durganagar Koitur Bazar on August 25 last, a large number of locals of Durganagar area had blocked the National Highway -8 on Thursday to protest against the arrest demanded the police to release the detained youths, who were taken into custody late last night for interrogation regarding the violence.

One of the agitators argued that the 5 persons were wrongly detained by the police in connection with the defacing of Kali idol. They are not involved in defacing Kali idol, the agitator said. “The main culprits who vandalized the idol have not been arrested. We want them punished,” he added and threatened to intensify the protest if the police failed to release the detained persons immediately.

MLA of Majlishpur assembly constituency and minister Sushanta Chowdhury rushed to the spot to intervene and interacted with the agitators to withdraw the blockade.

Urging the agitators to withdraw the blockade, the minister said, “Police had done their duty. We shall move further as per the law only. We cannot protest unlawfully by blocking national highways.” He further appealed to the agitators saying that such unlawful protest will tarnish the image of Chief Minister and the government.

On the other hand, the Superintendent of Police of West District Dr Kiran Kumar who along with a huge contingent of police and TSR jawans were present, said, “We have arrested 5 persons and in response to that people have gathered here to agitate against the move of the police. We are taking action based on the information we have. We anticipate more arrests soon.”

The agitation was later withdrawn with the intervention of the minister, as he assured the agitating locals of looking into the matter on priority basis.