After being on the run for 55 days, Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan was today arrested in Bengal’s Sandeshkhali on charges of torture, sexual assault and land grabbing. This arrest has triggered a political tussle between the ruling TMC and the Bharatiya Janata Party.
In a late night operation, a special team of Bengal Police arrested Sheikh Shahjahan from a house in North 24 Parganas district. The leader and his associates have been accused of sexual assault on women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.
Soon after the arrest, Trinamool spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that the state police proceeded with the arrest as soon as the legal hurdles were cleared.
“He could not be arrested initially due to legal complications. However, the West Bengal Police did its job after the court made it clear that there was no stay on his arrest,” Mr Ghosh said.
Mr Ghosh accused the opposition of taking advantage of the “ban” imposed earlier on Sheikh’s arrest.
The Calcutta High Court had on Wednesday directed that Shaikh could be arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), the Enforcement Directorate (ED) or the West Bengal Police. The decision came after Monday’s direction, where the court had ordered the state police to arrest Sheikh within seven days.
“We had said he would be arrested in seven days because we had confidence in the capability of the state police,” Mr Ghosh said.
The opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has termed the arrest as a scripted drama. BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya claimed, “It was the TMC and the state police that were shielding the culprits. They have now been arrested as part of a well-written story.”
Main accused of Sandeshkhali case #shekhshahjahanHe was absconding for more than 50 days and was arrested.@Vasudha156 And @RatnadipC reporthttps://t.co/Ltj4mpb6Lapic.twitter.com/T6DG4x6vlM
– NDTV (@ndtv) 29 February 2024
The BJP had earlier alleged that Shaikh was in “safe custody” of the state police since Tuesday night. The conflicting statements between the two political parties have further heated up the already tense political atmosphere in West Bengal.
Sandeshkhali area located on the border of Sundarban has been in the grip of unrest for more than a month. The protests stemmed from allegations of sexual exploitation and land grabbing against Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters.
Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress chief Mamata Banerjee had said she had “never allowed injustice” and accused the opposition party of instigating trouble on the island in North 24 Parganas district.
“I have never allowed injustice in my life. I immediately sent representatives of the State Women’s Commission (Sandeshkhali) and 17 people have been arrested,” Ms Banerjee said in the Assembly. The raging issue earlier this month.
