Eight associates of an alleged gangster were today arrested for attacking the police while attempting to snatch the accused from custody at Belur in Howrah district.
A senior police officer said the eight, all stated to be henchmen of the arrested 'historysheeter' Anil Rajak, were taken to custody after they turned on the cops escorting Rajak on the road.
Police reinforcements had to be sent to bring to book the eight offenders who assembled all of a sudden as the accused was being taken in a vehicle and intercepted the vehicle and tried to set him free, the officer said.
The officer didnot corroborate unconfirmed reports that Rajak escaped during the melee as the cops were mobbed on the road and remained untraced till now.
