Local TMC leader, Sheikh Shahjahan
Sheikh Shahjahan, the leader of the Trinamool Congress, is charged with rape and stealing land in the West Bengal village of Sandeshkhali. The Calcutta High Court harshly criticized Shahjahan on Tuesday. “It could mean that the state police machinery doesn’t have the wherewithal to secure him or (he) is outside the jurisdiction of the state police,” the court observed during the hearing of an appeal by the Mamata Banerjee government challenging the single bench order, which had also stayed imposition of Section 144 of CrPC in some areas of Sandeshkhali by the administration. “If one person can hold the entire population to ransom, then that person should not be encouraged by the ruling dispensation,” the high court said.
The Sandeshkhali disturbance
Serious accusations of sexual assault by Shahjahan and his supporters at gunpoint at their local TMC office in the North 24 Parganas district village have been made by a number of women. Since his supporters attacked Enforcement Directorate officials on January 5, who had gone to search his property in connection with a ration scam investigation, Shahjahan is on a run.
Bengal police not acting up
The high court stated during the Tuesday’s hearing that despite multiple cases being filed against the TMC leader for allegedly attacking ED officials, the Bengal police have not been able to capture the leader.
“If Shajahan continues to be on the run, then law and order problems will obviously arise as he has his supporter,” the court noted, adding that he could be asked to appear before the court. Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam of the Calcutta High Court stated that the state, the ED, and the CBI will all be required to be present on the day he is called upon to appear.
