Kolkata: Trinamool Congress leader and influential figure in Sandeshkhali, Sheikh Shahjahan, who had been evading authorities for 55 days, was apprehended by the West Bengal Police early on Thursday.
Sheikh, along with his associates, is a prime suspect in cases involving land encroachment and sexual harassment, stemming from violent protests in Sandeshkhali island in North 24 Parganas district. His evasion began on January 5 after his supporters attacked a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials near his residence.
The Indian Express quoted state police officers who said, “The West Bengal Police detained Sheikh Shahjahan this morning.” Shahjahan was reportedly arrested from the North 24 Parganas district after midnight and subsequently presented before the Basirhat court, where he remains in custody. Police surveillance had been ongoing for days prior to the arrest.
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The police clarified that legal impediments were overcome to effectuate Sheikh’s arrest. “There was a legal mandate to apprehend Shahjahan Sheikh. However, the arrest was delayed due to a court injunction, which was subsequently lifted,” mentioned ADG (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar. He elaborated, “Sheikh was apprehended in the Minakhan police station vicinity under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, including 147 (rioting) and 148 (armed rioting).”
Addressing concerns, the senior police official urged opposition leaders to refrain from stoking division in Sandeshkhali. “Certain leaders, particularly from the opposition, are leveling allegations against the police, which is disheartening. It’s advisable to desist from such actions,” he remarked. Sarkar also raised questions about the ED’s involvement in the case, suggesting that pertinent details would be disclosed in court.
Reacting to the development, TMC’s National General Secretary Saket Gokhale emphasized on a social media platform, “As our Natl Gen Sec @abhishekaitc had rightly pointed out — it was a Calcutta HC stay order that had restrained the police. We had also committed that Sheikh Shahjahan would be arrested WITHIN DAYS if the Hon’ble HC freed the hands of the police. On 26th Feb, the HC clarified that WB Police can arrest Sheikh Shahjahan. And today, in less than 72 hours, he has been arrested by West Bengal Police.”
He further noted, “Now remember — despite multiple protests across the nation, the Modi Govt NEVER arrested Brij Bhushan Sharan. In fact, he even continues to be a Lok Sabha MP of the BJP despite all his crimes. That’s the difference between Mamata Banerjee & the criminal-protecting by Narendra Modi.”
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