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West Bengal Police Arrest Two In Connection With Attack On ED Team

West Bengal police arrest two individuals, Mehaboob Mollah and Sukomal Sardar, in connection with the assault on an Enforcement Directorate team during a raid at the residence of Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali.

Enforcement Directorate
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In a recent development, West Bengal police apprehended two individuals, Mehaboob Mollah and Sukomal Sardar, in connection with the assault on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team during a raid at the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district. The arrest follows a detailed examination of video footage capturing the attack.

Presented before a court, Mollah and Sardar were remanded to three-day police custody, as confirmed by Basirhat SP Joby Thomas. The ED had earlier expressed dissatisfaction with the state police's handling of the incident, alleging non-provision of a copy of the complaint and the filing of a suo motu case against its officers for alleged offenses.

Amidst the legal clash, Sheikh's family filed a complaint, claiming the ED raided their home without prior notice and forcibly entered by breaking locks. The ED, in turn, issued a lookout notice for Sheikh, expressing concerns about a potential attempt to flee the country following the assault. The probe agency also filed a complaint against Sheikh and his supporters for assaulting its officers.

The incident unfolded on January 5 when the ED team arrived to investigate TMC leaders Sheikh and Shankar Adhya, along with their relatives, regarding an alleged ration scam. A confrontation ensued, resulting in injuries to three ED officials and damage to their vehicles. Sheikh, a close aide of arrested state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, remains at large.

The ED has raised serious allegations, citing an "enormous" ration distribution scam with suspected proceeds of crime amounting to ₹9,000-10,000 crore, with ₹2,000 crore potentially transferred to Dubai directly or through Bangladesh.