‘Bengal Police Organising Criminals To…’: BJP Slams Mamata Govt After Fresh Sandeshkhali Incident

BJP leader Arjun Singh on Friday said that West Bengal police has been “organising criminals and providing them with the safe passage”. His remarks come hours after an NIA team was attacked in Sandeshkhali’s Medinipur. Singh alleged that no matter what “such” people may do, the state government led by Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee will protect them. 

“Bengal Police have been doing all these things. Those who attack are been given assurance that whatever they do, will protect them. They know well that nothing will happen to them, NIA, CBI, and ED will come and go. All the people from TMC who are associated with this incident must be arrested within 24 hours otherwise the election won’t be fair in the state,” Singh was quoted as saying by ANI. 

#WATCH | North 24 Parganas, West Bengal: On attack over NIA team in Medinipur, BJP leader Arjun Singh says, “…State police have been doing all these things. They organise criminals and provide them safe passage. Those who attack are been given assurance that whatever they do,… pic.twitter.com/V0FwqF2iK2

— ANI (@ANI) April 6, 2024

Earlier in the day, a team of official from the National Investigation Agency (NIA) were surrounded by protesters armed with sticks in North 24 Pargana district of Sandeshkhali. They were investigating a case linked with the Bhupatinagar, East Medinipur blast case, when several villagers including women started pelting stones at their vehicle. People allegedly tried to stop the NIA team from taking the accused person along with them.

READ | Bengal’s Sandeshkhali Back In Focus As NIA Team Probing Blast Stopped By Protesters Armed With Sticks

Sandeshkhali, an island in the Sundarbans, has become the epicentre of political debate in the country after several women accused suspended TMC politician Shajahan Sheikh and those close to him of sexual abuse and land grabbing. The Calcutta High Court recently stated that what occurred in Sandeshkhali is extremely “shameful”. 

Earlier this year, the name of suspended TMC leader Shahjahan came up when a team from the Enforcement Directorate (ED) went to conduct a raid at his home in connection with a ration scam and was later attacked by a crowd

Shahjahan’s association with the Trinamool Congress began in 2013. Notably, two years later, the party assumed power in the state, succeeding the Left Front government in 2011.

Jyoti Priya Mallick, a former State Minister, and TMC leader, identified his political recognition following the TMC’s victory in 2011. Mallick is currently in prison for allegedly participating in a multi-crore ration distribution scam.