6 policemen injured in Sandeshkhali in clash over raid linked to TMC worker

Six policemen were injured and a police vehicle was vandalised in Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district on Friday as a police team visiting the village to summon a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker came under attack, police sources said.

The incident occurred when the police team arrived at the house of Musa Mollah, who is allegedly close to suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh.

Mollah had allegedly occupied land in the area illegally, leading to a dispute. Following this, the Basirhat sub-divisional court imposed Section 144 on the property. Mollah then allegedly began filling the farmland with salt water, prompting the police to be informed.

The police had earlier sent notices to Mollah, but he had allegedly not complied.

On Friday, a team from the Nazat police station went to Mollah’s house in Boyarmari and asked him to accompany them to the station. According to a police officer, Mollah then called his followers, who stopped the police car, vandalised the vehicle, injured the personnel, and took him away. Later, personnel from the Rajbari police outpost also arrived at the spot, but they too were allegedly attacked. According to police sources, the injured policemen were rushed to Minakha Hospital for treatment.

After the incident, a large police force was deployed in the area. Officials raided houses and arrested nine people, who are now being questioned. Though no official statement has been issued, a senior police officer said, “Raids are still being carried out to trace other accused. All CCTV footage is being checked.”

According to police sources, the pradhan (chief ) and upa-pradhan (deputy chief) of Boyarmari Gram Panchayat 2 have been detained.

Meanwhile, the family members of those arrested alleged that their family members were innocent and were being falsely implicated.

TMC spokesperson Arup Chakraborty condemned the incident, “The police are performing their duty; arrests have been made. The Opposition has no issue politicising this,” he added.

BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar hit out at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. “The CM cannot save her own police, then how will she protect us? This situation is like Bangladesh. The TMC is giving rise to a Dipu Das-like situation. We are not surprised,” he said, referring to the Hindu garment factory worker who was lynched by a mob about 100 km from Dhaka in December last year.

This is not the first time that those in uniform have been attacked in Sandeshkhali. In January 2024, an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team was attacked when they visited suspended TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh’s house.

As soon as the ED officials reached his house, they were allegedly surrounded by hundreds of people, including Sheikh’s followers. The team came under attack, with three ED officials hospitalised. The ED team had to retreat. Later, the central agency informed the court that Sheikh was inside the house at the time and had summoned people to gather. He then escaped through the back door. Sheikh is currently in jail, with multiple cases pending against him. Even in jail, he has been accused of threatening and intimidating people in  Sandeshkhali.