Tura, April 13: The BJP worker who tried to influence voters outside a polling station leading to a clash and subsequent surrounding of the police station by an angry mob after voting ended on Monday evening has been arrested

The BJP worker, Anoy Paul, was arrested on Tuesday morning following an FIR lodged against him by the Polling official of Chaipani polling station where he had tried to canvas for the BJP candidate as voters stood in line to cast their ballot.

“He has been arrested this morning from Dalu based on the FIR registered against him by the polling official. He is remanded to judicial custody,” confirmed West Garo Hills Superintendent of Police Dr. MG Raghavendra Kumar while speaking to Hub News.

He also said that a separate FIR lodged by Anoy Paul following his assault has been registered by police and investigation is on.

Meanwhile, an official order has been given for a magisterial enquiry into the incident by West Garo Hills Deputy Commissioner Ram Singh on Tuesday.

“The Block Development Officer of Gambegre, Monoranjan R Marak, has been appointed the enquiry officer with a time frame of 15 days to complete the investigation, ” announced DC Ram Singh.

The enquiry will question polling officials, police and members of the public in connection with the incident that began at Chaipani polling station and which ended in a mob surrounding the police station.

A law and order situation unfolded in the border town of Dalu during polling yesterday when the accused BJP functionary allegedly tried to woo voters to vast their ballot in favour of his party. It led to an altercation with the public and workers of other political parties leading to his assault.

The situation took a turn for the worse when Paul marched into the Dalu police station to register an FIR seeking arrest of those who assaulted him.

This infuriated the public who blamed him for the melee. Soon, hundreds of angry people surrounded the Dalu police station demanding his arrest.

The deputy commissioner and SP rushed to the town from Tura, 51 kms away, and later brought the situation under control.

“Peace meetings have been held among different communities involving leaders of society and the public and the situation is returning to normalcy. We have posted Gazetted officials, magistrate and police at Dalu and adequate reinforcements have arrived,” informed SP Dr Kumar.

Meanwhile, police records reveal that the accused Paul has had a history of run-in with the law on previous occasions.

He was previously booked for allegedly inciting social disharmony and was also on a police remand.