TMC supporter Avijit Mandal alias Rana, the prime accused in the assault on realtor Abhijit Sarkar at Cossipore on Friday night, was arrested from Kharagpur while trying to leave West Bengal, according to sources.

According to the police and Sarkar, a group of men linked to a local TMC worker demanded Rs 5 lakh to vacate tenants from a property on Rajendra Nath Roychowdhury Lane of Sithi where the realtor was working on the construction of a multi-story building.

CCTV footage shows the attackers arriving on motorcycles, vandalising the realtor’s office, and stealing money and a ring.

Sarkar says the attackers are connected to Jayant Singh, a controversial TMC strongman with a history of violence.

Deputy Mayor Atin Ghosh of the TMC, also named by Sarkar, said he was unaware of the incident.

Six people have been arrested in the case on charges of extortion, assault, causing grievous hurt. They have been remanded in police custody till July 18.