Sandeshkhali: West Bengal Police Arrests Absconding Trinamool Leader

Trinamool Congress block president, Shibu Prasad Hazra, who was on a run, has been arrested by the Bengal Police. According to the reports, Shibu Prasad Hazra has been apprehended following allegations of sexual harassment and rape by several women in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali.

West Bengal Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar told the media that a case was registered after a woman leveled allegations against the TMC leader and she provided a statement before a magistrate under section 164 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC).

The Sandeshkhali incident has been hitting the headlines and sparked political drama in the state, with both the opposition and the ruling party exchanging accusations.

Delegations from the BJP and the Congress were prevented from visiting the village on Friday.

HM Rehman, SP Basirhat said,"Shibu Hazra has been arrested from the Najat area of ​​Basirhat in West Bengal. A total of 18 people have been arrested including Shibu Hazra. An investigation is underway based on the complaints we are receiving...We have not received any complaint against Shahjahan Sheikh... Police and force are deployed in every gram panchayat..."

Hazra, along with another associate of local Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan, faces allegations of sexual harassment and land grabbing by multiple women. The second associate, Uttam Sardar, was previously arrested. Shahjahan remains at large after an Enforcement Directorate team was attacked by a mob during a raid on his house on January 5, linked to an alleged ration scam.