Sandeshkhali Case Accused TMC Leader Sheikh Shahjahan Suspended From Party For Six Years (image-screen grab/twitter/amitmalviya)

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) on Thursday announced the suspension of the TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan from the party for six years following his arrest in Sandeshkhali case. Hours after his arrest by the West Bengal police, the party announced his suspension.

TMC senior leader Derek O”Brien announced in Kolkata, “TMC has decided to suspend Sheikh Shahjahan from the party for six years.” The party has stated that Sheikh Shahjahan will lose all party posts that the TMC strongman used to hold. The TMC leader who was accused of sexual abuse and land grab has been on the run for the past 55 days which has resulted in massive protests led by local women and natives.

Derek O”Brien while announcing the party”s decision also added, “We have decided to suspend Sheikh Shahjahan from the party for 6 years. As always, we walk the talk. We have set examples in the past, and we are doing so today”. He also added that the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress stands by the people and takes “no-nonsense, whoever you are”. “If you have hurt or are alleged to have hurt the people, we walk the talk,” he said.

The 53-year-old who has been picked up from the Minakhan area is now sent for 10 days of police custody. The arrest of the TMC leader came three days after the Calcutta High Court criticized the state police for not arresting the accused stating that no stay order will be granted with regard to his arrest order.

The BJP has earlier accused the West Bengal government and the TMC of “protecting” Shahjahan from arrest. And BJP has claimed that the government was “forced to take action due to the continuous agitation by the BJP”, reports India Today. The Crime Investigation Department (CID) has taken over the investigation.
Celebration broke out in Sandeshkhali as the news of the arrest reached the area with the locals distributing sweets.