Kolkata, May 20: Bengal police have arrested two female leaders of the Trinamool Congress linked to the already detained strongman Sheikh Shahjahan. The arrests took place in Sandeshkhali, located in the North 24 Parganas district, in connection with a violent attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in 2024.
This action follows an intensified investigation by the police after a change in the state government. Among those arrested are Sabita Roy, the chairperson of the Sandeshkhali-I Panchayat Samiti, and Mithu Sardar, another influential Trinamool leader.
According to police reports, both leaders were involved in the attack that occurred on January 5, 2024, in the Sarberia area outside Shahjahan’s residence. Authorities believe that this assault, which involved sticks and sharp weapons against ED officials and central forces, was part of a larger conspiracy.
Investigators assert that the charges against the arrested leaders extend beyond the attack on the ED. Mithu Sardar, in particular, faces serious allegations related to post-election violence in 2021. After the election results were announced, she was implicated in cases of harassment against opposition political activists, vandalism, and instilling fear in the community.
Local residents have accused both leaders of running parallel power structures in the area under Shahjahan’s protection for a long time. The police plan to present the arrested leaders in Bashirhat court and will seek their remand for police custody. Sources indicate that these women played active roles in incidents ranging from the 2021 post-election violence to the 2024 attacks on central agencies.
On January 5, 2024, an ED team visited the Agarhati area of the Sandeshkhali block to investigate a ration corruption case. This action targeted Sheikh Shahjahan, a prominent Trinamool leader and the executive director of the North 24 Parganas district council.
Supporters of Shahjahan violently attacked the ED team, resulting in serious injuries to its members. In February 2024, large-scale protests erupted in the area as villagers accused Shahjahan and his associates of land grabbing and sexual harassment of women.
Shahjahan, who evaded capture for 55 days following the attack on the ED team, was arrested on February 29, 2024. The ED was investigating his involvement in the ration scam and was about to conduct a search at his residence when the attack occurred.
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