Shahjahan Sheikh who targeted and sexually assaulted Hindu women in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, has been arrested from the Meenakh area of West Bengal today on Thursday morning. Shahjahan Sheikh is a leader of the Trinamool Congress. His arrest came under immense political pressure. Moreover, this arrest is before PM Modi’s arrival in West Bengal on March 6.
According to the police, Shahjahan Shaikh was hiding in a house in Meenakha in North 24 Parganas district, from where he was arrested. Police said that after his arrest he would be produced in Basirhat court. A police officer said that he is currently in custody and will be produced in court at 2 pm.
Charges against Shahjahan Sheikh
Shabjahan Sheikh first came to the attention of the ED team. Shahjahan Sheikh is an accused in the ration scam. ED raid on his house on the 5th of January 2024. The ED team was been attacked by the Sheikh and his supporters. Moreover, now Shahjahan Sheikh is also an accused in the attack on the ED team during a raid. Furthermore, he ran away after attacking the ED team.
After that, the incident of sexual harassment of Hindu women by targeting them in Sandeshkhali came to light. Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee initially supported him but later started distancing herself from the accused. Politics is hot over alleged sexual harassment and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.
After the ED action against Shahjahan Sheikh, the victimized women of the area came before the police and told the media about their pain. Sheikh Shahjahan, a Trinamool Congress Party leader from Sandeshkhali, has been accused of illegally acquiring land to build a fish farming pond. Moreover, Sheikh and his close ones are also accused of raping Hindu women.
PM Modi can meet Sandeshkhali Victims
After the Sandeshkhali incident came to light, several opposition leaders, including the Bharatiya Janata Party, protested vehemently against the Mamata government. After intervention by human rights groups, the ST Commission and the Calcutta High Court, as well as national media coverage, the Mamata government was forced to backtrack. Furthermore, the government arrested Shahjahan Sheikh this morning under immense pressure. Moreover, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is on a tour of Bengal on 6 March. According to sources, during this time he can also meet the victimized women of Sandeshkhali.
Trinamool Congress Party Leader’s Reaction to Shahjahan Sheikh Arrest
On the arrest of Sheikh, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said that the accused leader had been arrested only after the court lifted the stay. He further said that Abhishek Banerjee had said that the police’s hands were tied due to the stay of the High Court.
Party leader Shantanu Sen said that the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan proves that our government administratively follows Rajdharma. He stated action was taken against ministers Partha Chatterjee and Jyotipriya Malik. Moreover, accused Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar in the Sandeshkhali case were also arrested. Furthermore, now Sheikh has also been arrested.