ED violently attacked during raid in West Bengal, TMC leader arrested

The raid was part of an ongoing investigation into an alleged ration distribution scam involving Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders Shahjahan Sheikh and Shankar Adhya.

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The ED officials, accompanied by central armed paramilitary forces, faced vehement opposition from a large crowd of men and women numbering over 200, who not only surrounded them but also attacked them verbally and physically. The unruly mob inflicted damage on the officials’ vehicles, forcing the ED team to abandon the operation and retreat to Kolkata. This incident raises serious concerns about the prevailing law and order situation in the state.

FLASH: A team from the ED officials and media personnel faced an attack today in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas, West Bengal, during a raid on properties linked to TMC leaders Shahjahan Sheikh and Shankar Adhya in connection with the ration scam. #WestBengal #EDRaid #ED… pic.twitter.com/H9eCkCbLRN

— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) January 5, 2024

State food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick has already been arrested in connection with the ration scam, and the ED team was raiding the premises of two block-level TMC leaders and their relatives. The violence underscores the challenges faced by law enforcement agencies in carrying out their duties in West Bengal.

Sukanta Majumdar, the state BJP chief, expressed his concern, pointing out the broader implications of the incident. “The attack shows what the Rohingya are doing to the law and order in the state,” he remarked, highlighting the need for addressing both corruption charges and maintaining public order.

FLASH: A team of the ED was allegedly attacked during a raid in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas.#WestBengal #EDRaid #westbengalnews

— The New Indian (@TheNewIndian_in) January 5, 2024

Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, went further to describe the situation as “horrific” and asserted that the law and order in West Bengal are in shambles. He called for urgent intervention from Union Home Minister Amit Shah and Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose, urging them to take appropriate action against the prevailing anarchy.

The ration distribution scam, which has been under investigation for months, reveals significant irregularities in the Public Distribution System (PDS) in West Bengal. The ED has disclosed that nearly 30 per cent of the PDS ration meant for beneficiaries was diverted to the open market, with proceeds shared between rice millers and PDS distributors.

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In response to the incident, BJP’s National Information and Technology Department co-incharge for West Bengal, Amit Malviya, shared the video on X and wrote, “This is how lawless Bengal is. It is likely that several of those who came out to attack the agency officials are illegal migrants, who have been patronised by the local TMC leaders, to serve as their vote bank. Continuance of TMC Govt in West Bengal is a national security threat.”

A team of the ED and accompanying media was attacked this morning in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, when it raided the premises of two block-level TMC leaders, Shahjahan Sheikh and Shankar Adhya, in connection with the ration scam, in which state food… pic.twitter.com/YyEudM89CX

— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) January 5, 2024