On January 5, ED officers and central force personnel were assaulted by the supporters of the Trinamool Congress president of the Sandeshkhali unit Shahjahan when they raided his house in connection with their investigation into the alleged ration scam.
On Wednesday, ED officers visited Sheikh Shahjahan’s house in Akunjipara in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district at around 6 am. Unlike on January 5, the 125 central force personnel who were escorting the ED team wore body shields, and helmets and were in riot control gear carrying tear gas shells along with batons and guns. A large number of state police personnel as well as the Rapid Action force were also present on the spot.
ED officers broke open the lock at Shahjahan’s house with the help of a locksmith and initiated the search operations. They were escorted by a videographer and two witnesses. They are trying to open every room in the house to conduct searches.
Immediately after reaching the house in Akunjipara, a section of the central force team cordoned off the house, while others went for area domination. They were also seen conducting route marches not only on the Dhamakhali-Sarberia Road in front of the house but also at the local market and surrounding villages.
A Zilla Parishad member HE IS STILL P MEMBER ( incharge of fisheries department but removed after January 5) AND PARTY UNIT HEAD IN SANDESHKHALI, Sheikh Shahjahan has multiple houses in the area and also owns over 400 bighas of fisheries, five brick kilns, and a market which is named after him.
While West Bengal Police are yet to trace him, Shahjahan had released an audio clip from his hideout asking TMC workers and leaders not to fear central agencies. His clout extends beyond the Sandeshkhali area to other parts of the state’s North 24 Parganas district. He is known to be close to Jyotipriya Mullick, former food and forest minister who was arrested by ED in connection with the ration scam.
After they were assaulted by the mob on January 5, three ED officers sustained injuries and had to be hospitalised. While Sheikh Shahjahan is yet to be arrested, the West Bengal Police have arrested nine people in connection with the assault. They had lodged three FIRs after the incident, including one against the ED.
On January 17, the Calcutta High Court ordered the formation of a Special Investigation Team of officers of the CBI and West Bengal police to probe the attack on the ED officials in Sandeshkhali earlier this month.