This is the first time ED officials have come under such an attack during a raid in connection with the ration scam. Rebuking the state government, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said he would explore constitutional options to put an end to violence in the state. Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, meanwhile, sought the Union Home Minister’s intervention in the matter. Terming the incident “unfortunate”, the TMC blamed the central agency for “trying to malign” its image.
The ED team incurred the wrath of local residents when they arrived to raid the house of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh. The house was locked. Despite repeated efforts by ED officials, no one responded to their calls. After waiting for about an hour, the investigating officer tried to break the lock of the house. Several local people reached the spot at the time.
The officials of the central agency had to retreat under the pressure of the mob. Soon, the local residents started protesting at different places in Sandeshkhali. A group of people were also seen protesting by setting tyres on fire. Locals vandalised some media vehicles too. The ED informed the local police about the developments.
A local resident told The Indian Express, “Sheikh’s followers gathered outside his house in large numbers and manhandled and heckled jawans of the central force. Considering the public reaction, the ED officials left the spot but even after that, the angry crowd did not stop. Several people took to the streets with bricks and mortars. Some roads have been blocked.”
Soon, Leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari sought the Union Home Minister’s intervention and a probe by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in the matter. Taking to X, formerly Twitter, he wrote, “Horrific. The Law & Order Situation in West Bengal is in shambles. ED Officials & CRPF Jawans were brutally attacked in Sandeshkhali; North 24 Parganas district, while conducting raid at TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan’s house. I doubt that Rohingyas are present amongst the Anti National attackers. I urge Hon’ble Union Home Minister; Bengal Governor, ED Director and CRPF to take cognizance of this grave situation and take appropriate action to crush this anarchy.”
In a stern message to the TMC government, Governor Bose said he would explore his constitutional options and take appropriate action. Referring to the incident as “pre-election violence”, he said, “The ghastly incident reported from Sandeshkhali is alarming and deplorable. It is the bounden duty of a civilised government to stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy. If a government fails in its basic duty then the Constitution of India will take its course. As governor, I will explore all my constitutional options for appropriate action.”
“I would like to assure the people that jungle raj and goonda raj will work in a fool’s paradise, not in Bengal. It is not a banana republic. This early pre-election violence will and should find an early end. It is the beginning of that end. The sole responsibility of violence in society lies with the government. The government may open its eyes, see the reality and act effectively or face the consequences. The police who pretend not to see the lawlessness around should go. The perpetrators of violence and more so their political abettors will soon be made to realise that you can fool some people all the time and all people sometimes but not all the people all the time. It is high time we stop violence in Bengal,” Bose added.
The TMC termed the incident “unfortunate” and blamed the central agency for “intentionally trying to malign” the party’s image. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “The Sandeshkhali incident is very unfortunate. However, there is serious provocation from the part of central agencies and central forces. The agencies are provoking people by reaching different areas every day in the name of raid under the BJP’s instruction. Every day, episode by episode an attempt is being made to malign the image of the Trinamool Congress. It has become a trend now.”
“On one hand, no raid is conducted at the houses of corrupt leaders like Suvendu Adhikari who was caught taking money on camera, and is an accused named in a CBI FIR. But wherever the BJP is not able to stand with the TMC, central agencies carry out raids and provoke people. I will appeal to people not to fall into the trap. These central agencies are also using some media for their benefits. I appeal to people to understand the intention,” Ghosh added.
On Friday morning the ED had arrived at the houses of two TMC leaders in North 24 Parganas. A team first reached the house of the in-laws of Shankar Adhya, the former chairman of Bongaon Municipality. Later, Adhya’s house was also raided. Simultaneously, another team reached Sheikh’s house in Sandeshkhali. According to sources, Adhya and Sheikh are close to minister Jyoti Priya Mallick (Balu) who was earlier arrested in connection with the alleged scam. Sheikh is also considered a TMC strongman in the area and has multiple businesses, including a brick kiln.
According to ED sources, the agency raided the two places based on inputs related to the ration distribution scam case. The ED officials have also reached a multi-storey apartment in south Kolkata’s Vijaygarh. The sources added that a search is underway at the house of a chartered accountant.