Police arrest another TMC leader in Sandeshkhali, lodge FIR against Shajahan: Houses of local TMC leaders ransacked

Ajit Maiti, considered a close aide of absconding TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh, was detained on Sunday

PTI, Kolkata, Feb 26, 2024 :  The West Bengal Police on Monday arrested TMC leader Ajit Maiti from the trouble-torn Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district on the charges of land grabbing from villagers, an officer said.

Maiti, considered a close aide of absconding TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh, was detained on Sunday evening from the residence of a civic volunteer where he had locked himself for over four hours after being chased by villagers, he said.

“We have arrested him from Bermadjur area after getting complaints from villagers regarding land grabbing. We will produce him before a court later in the day,” the police officer told PTI.

After getting over 70 complaints, the police lodged an FIR against Shajahan Shiekh, he said.

Most of the complainants claimed that Shajahan was actively involved in the forcible acquisition of their land and torturing of local women, the police officer said.

Maiti’s arrest comes less than 24 hours after the TMC made him the area president in place of Shajahan’s brother Sheikh Sirajuddin.

According to the police, Maiti was grilled overnight in connection with allegations of land grabbing and sexual abuse of women and arrested early in the morning.

“It has been alleged that Maiti under the influence of Shajahan, grabbed several land plots in Bermadjur area of Sandeshkhali. He used to threaten people,” the officer said.

The police have already arrested local TMC leaders Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, both considered close aides of Shajahan, in connection with allegations of land grabbing and torture of women there.

Angry villagers had attacked Maiti a couple of days back for his alleged ties with Shajahan and his group, accused of land grabbing and sexual assault on local women.

The police action comes after a TMC delegation visited the restive Sandeshkhali for the second consecutive day on Sunday and heard the grievances of villagers who have been protesting against alleged atrocities by local leaders of the ruling party.

The riverine Sandeshkhali area — situated on the borders of the Sundarbans, about 100 kilometres from Kolkata — has been on the boil for more than a month with protests against Shahjahan, who is absconding, and his supporters.