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NATION MARCH 08, 2024 | The Indian Eye 10

WEST BENGAL VIOLENCE

After 55 days on the run, how the Sandeshkhali

accused was arrested and suspended from TMC

Close to two months Sheikh Shahjahan was reported untraceable in the wake of the

attack on an ED team, which was on its way to raid his residence

OUR BUREAU Further, he said that the Su-
preme Court has advised him to go
New Delhi
to Calcutta High Court with his PIL.
n a major breakthrough on After the arrest of absconding
Thursday, Sheikh Shahjahan was TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjah-
Iarrested by West Bengal police in an, who was on the run for 55 days,
connection with an alleged assault on West Bengal Minister Chandrima
ED officers during a raid in January Bhattacharya said that the TMC
earlier this year. West Bengal Gover- has never taken any step to shield
nor CV Ananda Bose called Shahja- any offender. West Bengal Minister
han’s arrest an ‘eye-opener’, adding Chandrima Bhattacharya said, “We
that it is only the ‘beginning’. have always said that we never take
Sandeshkhali in West Ben- any step to shield any offender. He
gal’s North 24 Parganas district had has been arrested because he is an
been witnessing widespread protests accused. Sheikh Shahjahan has also
against TMC strongman Shahjahan been suspended from the party for 6
Sheikh this month as a section of years.”
women were seeking justice against Taking a dig at the TMC gov-
alleged atrocities committed by the ernment and West Bengal Po-
TMC leader. A large number of lice over the arrest of absconding
women in Sandeshkhali had accused strongman and Sandeshkhali ac-
Shajahan Sheikh and his close aides cused Sheikh Shahjahan, and, his
of “land-grab and sexual assault” un- 10-day remand, BJP Rajya Sabha
der coercion. MP Sudhanshu Trivedi on Thurs-
Close to two months after Sheikh day said he has been put under the
Shahjahan was reported untraceable ‘mehman-nawazi’ (hospitality) of
in the wake of the attack on an ED the state police in a bid to avoid ar-
team, which was on its way to raid rest by the Directorate of Enforce-
his residence in the North 24 Parga- ment (ED) and the CBI.
nas in connection with the alleged But after the suspension of Tri-
ration scam, the TMC strongman, namool Congress leader Shahjahan
who is also alleged by the women of Suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan being brought to Bhabani Bhawan in the CID office Shiekh for 6 years by the TMC, Union
Sandeshkhali to have perpetrated Minister Giriraj Singh launched a
grave atrocities along with his hench- regarding the Sandeshkhali incident, in Kolkata on Thursday. (ANI Photo) scathing attack on West Bengal CM
men, was arrested by West Bengal Mamata Banerjee, saying that she
police on Thursday morning. Jharkhand, police said on Thursday. done it in past too. Mr Modi, we dare has set a standard for appeasement.
His close aide, Aamir Ali Gazi, Trinamool Congress on Thurs- you to suspend Narayan Rane, Hi- He said that Mamata Banerjee
was also arrested by West Bengal Po- day suspended Sheikh Shahjahan manta Biswa Sarma and Suvendhu is saving people like Shahjahan and
lice from Jharkhand. from the party for six years. TMC Adhikari. But you will not do as you allowing such people to play with the
Advocate Alakh Alok Srivas- leader Derek O’Brien held a press are not from TMC,” he said. dignity of Hindu women.
tava, who filed a PIL in the Supreme conference here today and said that Lawyer Raja Bhowmick, who “Mamata Banerjee saved Shah-
Court and sought an independent by the time West Bengal Police was represented Shahjahan in court, said, jahan in such a manner that no sec-
probe in the Sandeshkhali incident, given freedom, it took two days to ar- “14-day police custody (of Sheikh tions of women harassment have
said on Thursday that it was surpris- rest the culprit. Shahjahan) was demanded, but the been registered against him. You
ing that after court allowed the CBI “All India Trinamool Congress court allowed 10-day custody.””On have set a standard of appeasement.
and ED to arrest Sheikh Shahjahan, has decided to suspend Sheikh March 10, he will be produced in You took a long time to arrest him.
within a few hours he was arrested by Shahjahan from the party for six court again,” he said. For votes and appeasement, you are
the West Bengal police. years. There are two types of politi- “It is very surprising that after saving people like Shahjahan and
Meanwhile, Shahjahan’s close cal parties, one is who only talks but a few hours of this, the accused was allowing such people to play with
aide, Aamir Ali Gazi, has been ar- TMC walks the talk. This is not the arrested by the police. In the last 55 the dignity of Hindu women,” said
rested by West Bengal Police from first time we are doing this; we have days, he was not arrested,” he added. Union Minister Giriraj Singh.

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