Arrested Trinamool leader claims party asked him to flee

Kolkata, March 9: Trinamool Congress leader Mohammad Iqbal, a key accused in the murder of a police officer here Feb 12, said after his arrest Friday that he was asked to abscond by his party leadership. Meanwhile, following a Bihar court granting the West Bengal Police transit remand, Iqbal is being brought back to city where he will be produced in a court.Iqbal, who was on the run after the Feb 12 incident, claimed that he was asked by his party leaders to evade arrest. I was asked by Trinamool leaders to abscond and evade arrest," Iqbal told a news channel.Iqbal, who has been charged with rioting and attempt to murder, was arrested Thursday night from Dehri-on-Sone in Bihar -- 23 days after special branch officer Tapas Chowdhury was shot dead in broad daylight in the city's Garden Reach area during a clash between student activists. The Trinamool councillor and chief of the borough committee was seen at the spot of the incident, threatening a policeman and mobilising his supporters.Video footage aired by television channels showed Iqbal standing beside Sheikh Subhaan, the man who was caught on TV firing the bullet that allegedly killed the policeman.The violence had erupted over the issue of picking up nomination forms for the students' union polls.Twelve people, including Subhaan, an aide of Iqbal, are currently behind bars for their role in the violence.