Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan held after 55 days on the run amidst allegations of sexual violence, land grab
PTC Web Desk: In a significant development, Sheikh Shahjahan, a prominent Trinamool Congress leader facing multiple accusations of sexual violence and land grab, was arrested on Thursday morning after being on the run for 55 days. The arrest took place in the Minakhan area of North 24 Parganas, where Shahjahan had been hiding with his associates. He was subsequently produced in the Basirhat court and has been remanded to 10 days of police custody, with the authorities escorting him to Kolkata.
The arrest follows a scathing rebuke from the Calcutta High Court, which criticised the delay in taking action against Shahjahan, stating that he "should be arrested." The arrest is also connected to a case involving an assault on Enforcement Directorate officials during a raid on January 5.
The riverine region of Sandeshkhali in West Bengal had been witnessing ongoing protests by a large number of women who accused Sheikh Shahjahan and his supporters of both land grab and sexual assault under coercion. The arrest was greeted with celebration by the protesting women, who had been demanding swift action against Shahjahan.
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The High Court's directive and subsequent arrest have sparked political reactions, with West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar attributing the government's action to the continuous agitation by the BJP. Opposition leader Suvendu Adhikari remarked that the arrest seemed more like a "mutual adjustment," stating that Shahjahan would receive "5-star facilities in jail."
Trinamool MP Santanu Sen defended the delay in Shahjahan's arrest, attributing it to a "stay order" and asserting that the arrest exemplifies the government's commitment to 'rajdharma' in administration. Sen urged the BJP to learn 'rajdharma' from the TMC. Abhishek Banerjee, another Trinamool leader, claimed that the removal of the stay order paved the way for Shahjahan's arrest within a few days.
Shahjahan had been on the run since January 5 when a mob, allegedly affiliated with him, attacked Enforcement Directorate officials conducting a raid on his premises in connection with a scam. The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has received 50 complaints of "sexual abuse and land grab" against Shahjahan and his associates, primarily from tribal families. State government officials have reported receiving almost 1,250 complaints, including 400 related to land issues.
On Wednesday, the High Court directed that the CBI and the Enforcement Directorate (ED) could also arrest the Trinamool Congress leader. However, concerns were raised by the ED's additional Solicitor General of India, SV Raju, who expressed apprehension that if the state police arrest Sheikh Shahjahan, there could be a potential dilution of the case. The legal implications of the case continue to unfold as investigations progress.
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