West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose, expressing apprehension regarding TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh, the primary accused in the assault on ED officials, has directed authorities to promptly arrest him and investigate his potential connections with terrorists. The Governor's comments on Sheikh's alleged links with terrorists have faced strong criticism from the ruling TMC on January 7.
A statement released by Raj Bhavan on the night of January 6 highlighted that, upon receiving a complaint in the Peace Room, the Governor instructed the police chief to expeditiously apprehend the offender. The statement emphasized that the Governor underscored the importance of determining Sheikh's whereabouts and taking necessary action.
The complaint, suggesting that Sheikh may have "crossed the border" and has a "liaison with terrorists," is to be "enquired into immediately," as per the statement.
Responding to the Governor's remarks, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh raised concerns about the basis of such comments. He pointed out that, according to the Constitution, the Governor works in consultation with the State Government, questioning how such statements could be made without concrete reports or evidence. Ghosh asserted that the Governor is not meant to operate as a parallel government.
In the midst of political turmoil over the assault on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team in West Bengal, both the family of the TMC leader and the Central agency filed police complaints against each other on Saturday. These complaints were related to a raid during which the ED officials were attacked and injured by a mob.
The police initiated a suo motu case against the ED officers conducting the raid, involving charges such as molestation, forcible entrance, and theft.
In response to the incident, the ED issued a lookout notice for Sheikh, expressing concerns that he might attempt to flee the country. The notice comes after three ED officers were injured, and several vehicles were damaged by a mob in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district, near the Bangladesh border, during the raid related to an alleged ration distribution scam.
