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West Bengal: On Thursday morning,the Trinamool Congress leader accused of sexual violence and land grab by several women, Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested after 55 days of absconding in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal. Currently, he has been placed under police lock-up in Basirhat.
Senior police officer Aminul Islam Khan said that the 53-year-old Trinamool strongman has been picked up from the Minakhan area in North 24 Parganas and will be produced in court today. His apprehension is seen as a significant move by law enforcement authorities to address the unrest in the region.
TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested in the Minakhan area after a directive from the Kolkata High Court, empowering enforcement agencies to take action against individuals involved in the Sandeshkhali violence. A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of “land-grab and sexually assault” under coercion.
The riverine area has been embroiled in a series of protests for more than a month, demanding the arrest of Sheikh and his accomplices. He has been taken to Basirhat Court for further legal proceedings. Shazhan has been absconding since January 5, when a mob allegedly associated with him attacked Enforcement Directorate officials who had gone to search his premises in connection with a scam on January 5.
The National Commission for Scheduled Tribes has received 50 complaints of “sexual abuse and land grab” from tribal families against the Trinamool leader and his associates. Sheikh Shahjahan’s arrest had legal implications as it is in line with the directions issued by the Kolkata High Court, underscoring the state’s commitment to maintaining law and order in the Sandeshkhali area amid the ongoing turmoil. The state government officials stated that they have received almost 1,250 complaints, including 400 related to land issues.
