Bengal police nab Sandeshkhali Trinamool leader, lodge FIR against Shahjahan
While the Bharatiya Janata Party has been mounting allegations against the ruling Trinamool Congress for its inaction in Sandeshkhali, the police in Bengal has been steadfastly working towards restoring peace in the area.
In Sandeshkhali, Ajit Maity, a Trinamool Congress leader, has been arrested by the state police on charges of land grabbing following complaints from villagers. He is scheduled to appear in court later today.
Maity, known to be a close associate of the absconding Trinamool figure Sheikh Shahjahan, took refuge in the home of a civic volunteer for over four hours after being pursued by angry villagers.
Maity’s arrest comes after a confrontation with villagers due to his alleged connections to Shahjahan and his group.
Sheikh Shahjahan, who faces over 70 complaints, stands accused of forcibly acquiring land and mistreating local women.
After a bench of the Calcutta High Court said today that Bengal Police has the authority to arrest Shahjahan Sheikh (absconding ever since the Enforcement Directorate, a Union government agency, came to arrest him in January, when all the trouble started), the police registered a first information report (FIR) against him. This was confirmed by the Basirhat Superintendent of Police HM Rehman.
The police’s action comes amid ongoing protests in the island of Sandeshkhali, where villagers are demonstrating against alleged injustices committed by local leaders associated with the ruling party.
