Sandeshkhali has been at the centre of a controversy after Enforcement Directorate officers conducting a search at the home of local strongman and TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh were assaulted in the area on January 5. The team had gone there in connection with an investigation into alleged irregularities in the state’s public distribution system. Later, a large number of women in Sandeshkhali accused Sheikh and his supporters of encroaching land and sexually assaulting them.

Friday’s incident took place in the afternoon in the Sandeshkhali 2 block area, 15 km away from the centre of protests so far. Villagers stormed Maity’s house, ransacked it and also beat him up alleging that the TMC leader, a close associate of Shahjahan, was also involved in land grabbing and extortion.

Additional Director General of Police (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar rushed to the spot and received complaints from both sides, assuring them that all possible steps would be taken to address the situation. He also spoke to Maity and said, “We will take action against all the allegations. Those who ransacked the house will be arrested and if their allegation is true, more arrests will follow.” Later, Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar also reached the spot.

Meanwhile, the police stopped a seven-member BJP delegation, including MP Locket Chatterjee and MLA Agnimitra Paul, and a group of women lawyers who were scheduled to visit Sandeshkhali on Friday. The leaders had gathered in Kolkata’s EM bypass area but the police intervened when they were near Science City.

A scuffle allegedly broke out, and Chatterjee told the officers that Section 144 was not imposed in Bhojerhat. She was, however, detained and taken to Lalbazar.

Earlier on Friday, the Enforcement Directorate (ED) filed a fresh case against Sheikh in an old cheating incident allegedly related to land encroachment, and conducted searches at several locations linked to his associates.