The Trinamool Congress has called for “social dissociation” of police instead of boycotting them. Earlier, the party had called for “boycotting the police” and asked shopkeepers not to sell any items to them. Trinamool MP from Contai and Union Minister of Rural Development, Sisir Adhikary, said locals would not cooperate with the police till 13 of his partyworkers, who have been arrested for creating violence, were released on bail.

“People will not help the police if they seek their help during the raids,” said Adhikary. He added that the locals will resist the police if they try to harass innocent villagers.

Meanwhile, the police have recovered firearms and several crude bombs stockpiled at a local CPM office in Itaberia in East Midnapore. Locals, led by Trinamool leaders, raided the party office on Tuesday morning and the police later seized the firearms with their help.

Superintendent of Police (East Midnapore) Pallab Kanti Ghosh said the police have recovered two guns, 17 ammunition and a few crude bombs from the CPM office. No arrests have been made in this connection, he added.

The local CPM leaders, however, alleged that the Trinamool workers made attempts to capture the CITU office at Itaberia, following which the members of the trade union took shelter at a CPM office. The Trinamool also criticised the role of police. Adhikary said the police did not arrest top CPM leaders in Khejuri in connection with the recovery of arms from the CPM offices. He said the police instead helped CPM leaders to escape from the area.