“The police detained us and our party workers. They misbehaved even with the women workers of the party…we will take the police to court. They treated us like thieves or criminals. The police here do not follow the Constitution or the CrPC. They only listen to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee,” Majumdar said after being released.

The BJP’s protest is a fallout of several incidents in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district that have seen Opposition parties in West Bengal target the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Over the last few days, women in Sandeshkhali have been agitating over the alleged atrocities committed against them by TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan and his aides Uttam Sardar and Shiboprasad Hazra. While Sardar has been arrested by the police, Shajahan and Hazra are still absconding. Sandeshkhali was in the news recently after an Enforcement Directorate team that arrived to raid Shajahan’s residence was attacked on January 5.

On Tuesday, clashes broke out between police personnel and BJP supporters after they attempted to defy prohibitory orders that were in force outside the SP’s office. BJP workers, led by Majumdar, clashed with the police in Basirhat after being stopped from holding a protest.

Police resorted to a lathi charge to drive away the protesters which forced Majumdar to hold a sit-in. However, late Tuesday night, Majumdar and several BJP workers were detained by the police.