Police arrested eight persons on Saturday for their alleged involvement in the attack on cops on Friday in which six policemen, including officers-in-charge of two Birbhum police stations, were injured during a raid to recover smuggled coal stockpiled at a village in Lokpur.

“We have arrested eight persons for their involvement in the attack. We are conducting raids to arrest the kingpins behind the attack. No one involved in the attack will be spared,” said Nagendra Nath Tripathi, Birbhum police chief.

The police have charged the accused with attempt to murder and sections under the Arms Act.

“All the accused have been granted jail custody for 14 days as the police did not seek their custody. The police had recovered 60 tonnes of illegal coal from the spot during the raid on Friday,” said Rajendra Prasad Dey, the assistant public prosecutor of Dubrajpur court.

A large police team, comprising senior officers of at least four stations, raided Gangaramchawk village of Lokpur police station on Friday following complaints by authorities of a coal mine run by West Bengal Power Development Corporation Limited (WBPDCL) regarding regular pilferage of coal from their opencast mine.

As the police reached the spot, over a hundred villagers launched an attack on them by hurling stones and brickbats. Several police personnel, including officers-in-charge of Khoirasol and Kankartala, were injured in the incident and a few police vehicles were also vandalised. A dumper that was brought by the police to carry the smuggled coal was also set on fire by the mob.

Sources said the prime accused and mastermind behind coal smuggling Sheikh Ajim, Sheikh Tajam and Sheikh Lalbabu are absconding. “Most of the accused are associated with a faction of the ruling party,” said a source.

Birbhum Trinamul chief Anubrata Mondal, however, said: “The police will take action against those who are behind the attack and those involved in illegal coal trade.”