A violent protest unfolded in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, on Friday, as locals demanded the arrest of the absconding Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shajahan and his associates, according to news agency PTI. Armed with sticks and brooms, residents staged processions across different areas of Sandeshkhali, intensifying protests on the second day.
During the afternoon, the house of Shajahan's aide, Shiboprasad Hazra, was vandalised, and some furniture was set ablaze, as reported by PTI citing police.
Hazra's poultry farm in Zeliakhali was also targeted and set on fire, the report added.
Reacting to the incident, West Bengal LoP Suvendu Adhikari told ANI, "We don't support taking the law into one's own hands. But what is happening there is, that democracy is finished—no freedom to speak. People's anger came out today. People don't trust the govt and the Police are TMC cadre and that's why they are taking the law into their own hands. I appeal to them to peacefully agitate and they will get justice one day".
West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar also said that the situation in the violence-hit area is "very bad right now".
"The situation in Sandeshkhali is very bad right now, villagers protested against the atrocities like land grabbing... kidnapping girls, that are going on for years. Police couldn't control the situation so they brought TMC goons and arrested the villagers. The TMC goons also attacked villagers, set their houses on fire, and misbehaved with women. I wrote to the Union Home Minister requesting to do something about it, people there are in grave danger," Majumdar was quoted as saying by ANI.
Superintendent of Police Hossain Mehedi Rahaman stated that forces had been dispatched to the area, and efforts were underway to address the situation.
Rahaman mentioned that a complaint against Shajahan and his associates had been filed by villagers on Thursday and was currently under investigation. The search for their whereabouts was ongoing, according to the SP.
In a press conference, Additional Director-General (Law and Order) Manoj Verma urged the public not to resort to vigilante actions. "Investigation is underway into all complaints that have been lodged, and action will be taken. At the same time, if someone takes up the law into their hands, the law will take its own course. The situation is at present under control," he asserted.
Meanwhile, locals initiated a sit-in protest outside the Sandeshkhali police station, declaring their intent to continue until the arrest of Shajahan and his associates.
Shajahan went missing last month after an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team, investigating an alleged ration scam, was attacked during a raid on his house.
Locals alleged that Shajahan and his "gang" forcibly seized large areas of land and subjected people to abuse during their "reign".
Simultaneously, Shajahan's supporters took to the streets, prompting police efforts to prevent potential clashes.
The TMC asserted that the BJP and CPI(M) were encouraging unrest in the region. TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh told PTI, "There could have been discontentment against one or two TMC leaders in the area. The conspirators took advantage of that to foment trouble. It is an isolated incident, and people's grievances will be addressed."
In response, the BJP argued that the incident reflected pent-up frustration among the people. BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya told PTI, "The incident in Sandeshkhali is a trailer of things to come. The TMC regime will not last for many days."
CPI(M) leader Tanmoy Bhattacharya attributed the public outburst to the "illegal occupation" of extensive land and alleged police inaction, describing it as a spontaneous expression of anger rather than a political event.