1. Sheikh Shahjahan, accused of sexual violence and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, was arrested after 55 days on the run.
2. The 53-year-old Trinamool leader was apprehended from the Minakhan area in North 24 Parganas.
3. He has been remanded to 10 days in police custody following his arrest.
Kolkata, Feb 29: Sheikh Shahjahan, the Trinamool Congress strongman accused of sexual violence and land grabbing by multiple women in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, was apprehended on Thursday morning after 55 days of being on the run. He has now been remanded to 10 days in police custody.
The 53-year-old Trinamool leader was apprehended from the Minakhan area in North 24 Parganas, where he had been evading authorities along with his associates.
Shahjahan was subsequently presented before a court in Basirhat around 10:30 AM and was granted 10 days of police custody. Following this decision, the West Bengal CID has taken over the investigation into the cases filed against him.
Shahjahan’s arrest is linked to a case of assault on Enforcement Directorate officers during a raid on January 5, according to senior police officer Supratim Sarkar.
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Key Points of Sheikh Shahjahan’s Arrest:
- Sheikh Shahjahan faces multiple charges, including rioting, unlawful assembly, assault on a public servant, criminal intimidation, and offenses under the Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act.
- Upon hearing news of Shahjahan’s arrest, women in Sandeshkhali, who had been demanding action against him, celebrated by distributing sweets and dancing in the streets.
- The arrest follows a series of protests in the area over allegations of land grabbing and sexual assault involving Shahjahan and his associates.
- While the Trinamool Congress and its supporters attribute the arrest to political pressure, opposition leaders like Sukanta Majumdar and Suvendu Adhikari have criticized it as a belated and orchestrated move.
The arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan marks a significant development in the Sandeshkhali case, although it continues to be viewed through the lens of political rivalry and maneuvering in West Bengal.
