Tensions remained elevated in Sandeshkhali, an meeting constituency in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, following accusations of harassment and exploitation by native Trinamool Congress politicians. Sandeshkhali sprang to prominence on January 7, when an Enforcement Directorate crew arrived to raid native TMC chief Sheikh Shahjahan’s house in reference to the general public distribution system fraud was assaulted by a mob.
Though Sheikh Shahjahan has eluded arrest, starting February 7, villagers led by native ladies have launched violent protests over alleged harassment and exploitation by native TMC leaders.
Shahjahan faces expenses starting from cash laundering to harassment. Whereas the present West Bengal chief minister, Mamata Banerjee, has blamed the tensions on the Bharatiya Janata Get together (BJP) and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), the BJP and Congress have accused the TMC head of sheltering people accused of sexual abuse.
“Sheikh Shahjahan and his gang established a ‘reign of terror’ the place the dignity and modesty of ladies from the SC and ST communities have been repeatedly violated,” mentioned Chief of opposition in West Bengal and BJP Nandigram MLA on X on February 11.
Who Is Sheikh Shahjahan?
Shahjahan Sheikh, 42, is named “Bhai” and started as a part-time laborer within the fisheries of the Sandeshkhali block in North 24 Parganas close to the Bangladesh border.
Sheikh began working in fisheries and brick kilns in Sandeshkhali. He’s the oldest of 4 siblings.
Sheikh first entered politics in 2004 as a union chief on the brick kilns. His maternal uncle, Moslem Sheikh, was a neighborhood CPM chief and the panchayat chief. Shahjahan obtained his first breakthrough from his uncle, nevertheless, later he began distancing himself from CPM as TMC began gaining energy forward of the 2011 polls.
Sheikh, identified for his fiery speeches and organisational skills, piqued the curiosity of Trinamool Congress officers in 2012.
The 42-year-old labored for Mukul Roy, the then-TMC nationwide basic secretary, and Jyotipriyo Mullick, the North 24 Parganas TMC district president. He swiftly rose to energy, changing into a detailed aide of Mullick.
Sheikh rose to prominence in 2018 because the Sarberia Agarhati Gram Panchayat’s deputy head. His youthful siblings are additionally energetic TMC members. Additionally they run his firm, which incorporates land offers.
Sheikh can also be a widely known battle decision skilled within the space, mediating household points and land disputes.
In response to a neighborhood TMC chief reported by information company PTI, Sheikh is revered and feared within the locality. “To some, he’s a messiah; to his detractors, he’s a terror. He carries a Robin Hood picture within the space,” the TMC chief mentioned.
Regardless of being concerned in felony circumstances, he has performed an important function in combating little one trafficking, successful accolades for his efforts to designate Sarberia Agarhati gram panchayat as a ‘Youngster-Pleasant Gram Panchayat’ in 2019, in response to media reviews.
Within the aftermath of the lethal skirmishes between BJP and TMC members in Sandeshkhali throughout the Lok Sabha elections in June 2019, which resulted in deaths on either side, Sheikh was accused in a homicide FIR.
The place Is Sheikh?
The Sandeshkhali strongman has been lacking since a crowd attacked Enforcement Directorate officers who sought to look his residence in Sandeshkhali in January. The brand new expenses of harassment by ladies have sparked a political firestorm, prompting state police to crack down. Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar, two of Shahjahan’s aides, have been detained, however he stays on the run. Rajeev Kumar, the state police chief, mentioned a 10-member committee is trying into the Sandeshkhali occurrences.
The senior police officer said that state police will not be making an attempt to cover something and urged residents to return ahead with their grievances. The police are additionally arranging camps within the area to obtain complaints about land grabs and extortion.
One lady has complained of rape. Basirhat police chief HM Rehman mentioned, “The complaints acquired by us from the police crew in Sandeshkhali in addition to the police station didn’t point out any circumstances of rape. Nonetheless, in courtroom, one lady has lodged a criticism of rape. The police will take motion,” NDTV reported.