ED sources said that searches are being held simultaneously at three places in Sandeshkhali. A wholesale fish market near Dhamakhali and the house of Nazrul Mollah, one of the partners of the market, are among the places being searched. “The properties of a fish exporter and two builders are being searched,” an official said.

Before the search operation began, a large contingent of central forces cordoned off the main road in Sandeshkhali and surrounded the river. The fish market was also cordoned off. Central paramilitary force jawans have also been deployed at the locations.

An influential leader from Sandeshkhali, Sheikh has been in the limelight ever since an ED team that was on its way to conduct a search at his house in Sarberia was attacked and chased away on January 5. Sheikh and his aides have been accused of land-grabbing and sexual harassment in Sandeshkhali. After being at large for 55 days, Sheikh was arrested by the West Bengal Police last month and remanded to CID custody. Subsequently, his custody was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) following a direction by the Calcutta High Court.

The ED is also conducting an investigation against Shahjahan Sheikh in the ration distribution case. The central agency had recently filed a fresh Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) on ‘irregularities’ in the import-export business. The investigation of this case saw ED officials conduct searches at six locations, including Howrah, Kolkata and North 24 Parganas, on February 23. Searches were also carried out at the houses of several fish traders close to Sheikh. According to ED sources, some of these businessmen were associated with Sheikh in the fish business.