THE NEWS FREEDOM
KOLKATA, MARCH 6
Finally following two consecutive orders from the Calcutta High Court, Shajahan Sheikh, the prime suspect in the Sandeshkhali ED officials attack case, was handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) by the West Bengal CID on Wednesday. The high court today explicitly instructed the state government to promptly implement its judgment issued on Tuesday, which mandated the transfer of the case and the handing over of Sheikh to the CBI.
The CID, despite the high court’s order on Tuesday, cited the pending appeal of the West Bengal government before the Supreme Court and did not comply. However, today, albeit over two hours later than the specified time, the CID eventually handed over custody of the accused to the CBI. Shahjahan Sheikh had been arrested last week after eluding authorities for nearly two months.
He was apprehended in connection to a mob assault on ED officials in Sandeshkhali on January 5, when the central agency was conducting a search of his premises regarding an alleged ration distribution scam.
The BJP is using this case as a central issue to target the TMC. Prime Minister Narendra Modi today criticised Mamata Banerjee’s government for allegedly protecting the accused Shahjahan in the Sandeshkhali case. Describing the actions of the TMC government as “a matter of shame,” the Prime Minister underscored the critical significance of women’s safety and empowerment, underscoring the BJP’s unwavering commitment to advancing these crucial objectives. Addressing a women’s rally in Barasat, the Prime Minister said that the TMC government had exerted its full power to protect the accused in the Sandeshkhali case, but mothers and sisters, not only in Bengal but throughout India, will never forget and forgive the TMC for its actions.
Following the public gathering, the Prime Minister also met with a group of women from Sandeshkhali. During the conversations, the women courageously shared their stories of enduring atrocities.