Amid protests by locals demanding the arrest of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shajahan in the Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal, his close associate Uttam Sardar was arrested on Saturday. Notably, Uttam Sardar was suspended by TMC earlier in the day in view of the ongoing protests in the area. The locals were demanding his arrest for the last two days.
In addition to this, the police also arrested BJP leader Bikash Singh for allegedly provoking protesters who have been staging demonstrations against leaders close to the notorious Shajahan, including Uttam Sardar.
With the arrest of the two above-mentioned, a total of 16 people have been arrested by the police so far.
Protests in Sandeshkhali
Sandeshkhali has been rocked by protests led by locals for the past three days after a clash broke out following two processions led by Trinamool Congress (TMC) and BJP on Wednesday. A procession was taken out in the area by the local Trinamool supporters to protest against the central government. However, it took a violent turn when the BJP took out a counter procession.
The local residents took to the streets demanding the arrest of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who went missing last month after a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that went to raid his house in the alleged ration scam was attacked by a mob. Shahjahan has been absconding since then.
Tensions escalated near Sandeshkhali police station when the residents, especially women, came marching with brooms and sticks to voice their protest against the local TMC strongmen. The police, however, reached the spot and controlled the situation. The protesting women alleged that Shajahan and his “gang” captured swathes of land by force, besides sexually harassing them.
Internet services were suspended and restrictive orders were imposed in the Sandeshkhali after the protests intensified.
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