Absconding Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested by West Bengal Police from the Minakhan area in North 24 Parganas on Wednesday, February 28, night .
West Bengal State president, Sukanta Majumdar said, “Due to the continuous agitation by the BJP, this government was compelled to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan. The government was in denial mode. They were not even accepting that anything as such had happened,” reported ANI.
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He added, “I had already said that we would compel the government to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan. Today, due to the agitation of the BJP and the women of Sandeshkhali, government and Mamata Banerjee are compelled to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan.”
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The TMC leader had been evading arrest by both state and central agencies for over a month. ADG (South Bengal), Supratim Sarkar claimed that ED officers were assaulted on January 5 while raiding Sheikh Shahjahan’s residence. He said, “Sheikh Shahjahan, one of the principal accused in a case which happened on 5th January 2024 where ED officers were assaulted during the course of raid they were conducting…We arrested him yesterday night from Minakha Police area. We have forwarded Sheikh Shahjahan to Basirhat court…We will ask for Police remand.”
A section of women in the Sandeshkhali region in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district have been seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by the TMC leader, Shahjahan Sheikh. Thus the region bore witness to widespread protests against TMC strongman. These women accused Shajahan Sheikh and his close aides of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion.
Three days ago, Calcutta High Court Chief Justice ordered to add Sheikh Shahjahan to the Sandeshkhali case following which the arrest was made. Calcutta HC Justice on February 26 said, “There is no reason to not arrest him.” The Court issued an order for Sheikh Shahjahan’s arrest and stated, “Public notice shall be given in this case. There is no stay order in Sandeshkhali cases.”
Earlier on February 23, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) had raided almost half-a-dozen locations in West Bengal including residences of the absconding TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his close aides in connection with the alleged land grabbing case.
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Aisha Patel is a dedicated Indian correspondent with a deep understanding of the nation’s diverse affairs. With a background in Indian culture, politics, and current events, she provides in-depth analysis and timely reporting on domestic issues within India.
