Sandeshkhali Case Accused TMC Leader Sheikh Shahjahan Arrested (image-
Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan, accused of sexual violence and land grab by several women in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali was arrested on Thursday morning. He had been on the run for the past 55 days.
Shahjahan was arrested from a house in Minakhan in North 24 Parganas district where he was hiding, reports PTI. After the arrest, he was taken to Basirhat court. The police have been closely monitoring the activities of the leader.
On February 26, the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice ordered to add Sheikh Shahjahan to the case. “Public notice shall be given in this case. There is no stay order in Sandeshkhali cases. There is no reason to not arrest him,” the Court said.
To give out more information regarding the arrest, the ADG South Bengal has said that they will hold a press conference after 9 am.
Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district has witnessed widespread protest against Trinamool Congress leaders including Sheikh Shahjahan this month over alleged sexual atrocities and land grabbing. The TMC strongman has been on the run since January 5.
The West Bengal government too had been facing the heat as the TMC strongman avoided the arrest for weeks. The TMC leader has been accused of several criminal cases including the murder of 3 BJP workers in 2019.
The Enforcement Directorate has accused him of money laundering in the ration and land scams. As per the NDTV report, there are also allegations of violence against power department employees in West Bengal and this has led to the filing of FIR against him.
Shahjahan’s arrest came just days after the TMC assured the accused”s arrest. TMC Rajya Sabha MP-elect Sagarika Ghose asserted that the recent arrest of the TMC leader demonstrates the government’s commitment to upholding the law.
Refuting BJP’s claim that the government is shielding Sheikh Shahjahan, the TMC leader further added that the TMC and Bengal government are actively working to ensure justice.
While speaking to ANI on Tuesday, she said, “No one is being shielded; no one is being protected. No one will escape the law…The TMC and the Bengal Government are on the ground; they are working and there is every reason to believe that Sheikh Shahjahan will be arrested very soon”.
