Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and party’s strongman in Sandeshkhali, Shahjahan Sheikh, who had been on the run for the last 55 days, was arrested by the West Bengal Police early on Thursday. He was sent to police custody for 10 days by a local court.

Sheikh and his aides are among the key accused in cases of land grab and sexual harassment that surfaced following violent protests in Sandeshkhali island of North 24 Parganas district. He had been absconding since January 5 after a team of ED officials was attacked by a mob of his supporters near his residence in Sandeshkhali.

He was arrested around midnight in the North 24 Parganas district by a special Bengal police team. Following this arrest, he was taken to Basirhat court and was kept in the court’s lock-up.

Also Read: Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan, main accused in Sandeshkhali case, arrested

Lawyer Raja Bhowmick said, “14-day police custody (of Shahjahan Sheikh) was demanded but the court allowed 10-day custody…”

The arrest came three days after the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice ordered to add Sheikh Shahjahan to the Sandeshkhali case. On February 26, Calcutta HC Justice asked to issue a notice in the case and said, “There is no reason to not arrest him.”

Hailing the news of his arrest, TMC’s National General Secretary Saket Gokhale wrote on social media platform X, “As our Natl Gen Sec @abhishekaitc had rightly pointed out — it was a Calcutta HC stay order that had restrained the police. We had also committed that Sheikh Shahjahan would be arrested WITHIN DAYS if the Hon’ble HC freed the hands of the police. On 26th Feb, the HC clarified that WB Police can arrest Sheikh Shahjahan. And today, in less than 72 hours, he has been arrested by West Bengal Police.”

He added, “Now remember — despite multiple protests across the nation, the Modi Govt NEVER arrested Brij Bhushan Sharan. In fact, he even continues to be a Lok Sabha MP of the BJP despite all his crimes. Thats the difference between Mamata Banerjee & the criminal-protecting by Narendra Modi.”

Also Read: Sandeshkali row: Calcutta HC orders arrest of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, clarifies ‘no stay on arrest’

However, on the arrest of TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan, West Bengal Leader of Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari said, “This is not arrest, this is a mutual adjustment. Unless the central agencies take him into their custody, the people there won’t get justice…He will get 5-star facilities in jail. He will use mobile phone inside and control the area from there…”

Sandeshkhali unrest

Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district has been witnessing widespread protests against the Trinamool Congress strongman Shahjahan Sheikh this month as a section of women are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by the TMC leader.

A large number of women in Sandeshkhali have accused Sheikh and his supporters of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion. The leader who had been on the run since January 5, has been previously embroiled in several criminal cases, including the murder of 3 BJP workers in 2019.

Also Read: Sandeshkhali violence: Bengal BJP chief injured in clashes with cops, hospitalised

The Enforcement Directorate has accused Sheikh Shahjahan of money laundering in the ration and land scams. There were also allegations of violence against power department employees in West Bengal, resulting in an FIR filed against him.

The BJP accused the Mamata Banerjee government of shielding Sheikh Shahjahan after a mob of his supporters attacked an Enforcement Directorate team that went to Sandeshkhali to conduct raids against him in a corruption case.