'Suspended' TC leader held for wielding gun in hospital

The West Bengal police have arrested a Trinamool Congress leader, who has been caught on camera threatening the staff of a private hospital at gunpoint.

Ashish Dey surrendered on Monday morning at the Shiuri police station. The police in West Bengal's Birbhum district have slapped five non-bailable cases against Dey. They have charged Dey under the Arms Act, among others.

Eyewitnesses claim Dey was allegedly angry at the recent induction of a doctor in the hospital.

TMC party workers and student-wing activists were accompanying him. The incident took place on Friday.

Dey has been caught on CCTV, hospital managing director JP Khaitan said. "He first started a verbal spat with our employees accompanied by a group who repeatedly pleaded with them to leave the hospital premises. Dey then suddenly whipped out a revolver and threatened our staff," he added.

Expressing dismay over the 'incident', TMC MP Shatabdi Roy said, "Ashish Dey is no more with our party. He was suspended a couple of years back."

However, Dey has been seen with senior Trinamool leaders as recently as November 7.

To a question if a section of TMC leaders were still aiding the man, Roy said, "This man is damaging the image of the TMC. I would request everyone belonging to our organisation not to associate with such a person."

With inputs from PTI