The CBI took into custody Jiauddin Mollah (Molla), panchayat pradhan of the Sarberia Agarpara gram panchayat, Sheikh’s security guard Didar Baksh Molla and another person Faruk Akunji. According to officials, all three are close associates of Sheikh who is considered the mastermind behind the attack. “They will be produced before a magistrate tomorrow,” a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.
Earlier on Monday, the CBI had summoned nine close aides of Sheikh, over alleged involvement in the attack on ED officials who had come to raid his home at Sandeshkhali, in North 24 Parganas district, in connection with the alleged PDS scam in West Bengal that led to the arrest of minister Jyotipriya Mallick.
Last week, the CBI had filed three FIRs – one on the attack on ED officials at Sheikh’s residence in Sandeshkhali, another on the attack on ED officials at Sarberia in North 24 Parganas district and a third FIR was filed over the attack on the ED team at TMC leader Shankar Adhya’s residence. The West Bengal police arrested Sheikh on February 29, who was on the run for 55 days since the attack.
A CBI team visited Bongaon in North 24 Parganas district on Monday, as part of its probe into the attack on ED officers, who went to arrest TMC leader Shankar Adhya, the former chairman of the Bongaon Municipality, on January 5, officials said. A mob attacked officials who went to search properties linked to Adhya in connection with the alleged ration scam.
The officials also visited the house of Gopal Seth, current chairman of Bongaon Municipality, seeking CCTV footage of the Simultala area, where Adhya’s house is located. During the inquiry over the CCTV footage, Seth informed CBI officials that a footage is stored for a maximum of 25 days.
Meanwhile, the district administration has again clamped prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) till Wednesday, in three pockets of Sandeshkhali, including Dhamakhali and Sarberia.
The move came at a time when the CPM called for a public meeting at the Social Education Centre in Sandeshkhali from 2 pm on Monday. Sujan Chakraborty, Devalena Hembram, Mrinal Chakraborty, Bikas Ranjan Bhattacharya, and former Sandeshkhali MLA Nirapad Sardar addressed the public meeting amid massive security arrangements by the police. “I have not heard that Section 144 has been issued in Dhamakhali. I will look into it. The police gave us verbal permission, no written permission was given. A temporary stage has been erected and police did not object to it,” said one of the local party leader in Sandeshkhali.
—With PTI inputs