Reeling from Sandeshkhali unrest, TMC moves to control damage as BJP, CPI(M) turn up heat

With the Lok Sabha elections fast approaching, a series of incidents in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali have given the Opposition parties an opportunity to target the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

Sandeshkhali, spread over two blocks in the North 24 Parganas district, made the headlines following the January 5 attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials when they arrived to to raid the residence of Sheikh Shahjahan, a local TMC leader and strongman, in connection with an alleged ration scam. But, his many local supporters attacked the ED team, leaving three officials injured.

Since then, the ED, Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and state police have failed to arrest Shahjahan, who is still on the run.

A month after Shahjahan absconded, on February 8, women in Sandeshkhali took to the streets with brooms and sticks, demanding the immediate arrest of the former and his two aides Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.

The next day, the protesters attacked properties belonging to Hazra and set fire to his poultry farm. Locals said the poultry farm was set up on a plot of land the TMC leader had allegedly usurped.

Local women also alleged that Shahjahan and his aides had assaulted and exploited them for years. On Saturday, the police imposed Section 144 in various areas of Sandeshkhali and an internet shutdown in 16 panchayats.

In a bid to pacify angry villagers in Sandeshkhali, the TMC leadership suspended Uttam Sardar from the party, though the party said it did not find any allegations against Hazra. In a move that was criticised by the Opposition, Sardar was arrested only after his suspension.

The police also arrested Nirapada Sardar, a former CPI(M) MLA from Sandeshkhali, and local BJP leader Vikas Singh over the local