War of words after mob attack on ED team in Bengal

Bengal BJP leaders on Friday wrote to Home Minister Amit Shah to demand a National Investigative Agency probe into the attack on a team of Enforcement Directorate officers and their CRPF escorts who had gone to raid a Trinamool Congress leader's house in connection with a multi-crore ration distribution scam.

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The leaders alleged that Rohingyas, who have illegally entered the country, were among the mob of more than 1,500 people who beat up a team of ED officials and their 30-man CRPF escort group when the team attempted to raid the house of Shahjahan Shiekh, a Trinamool Congress leader, in Sandeshkhali in North 24-Parganas district, early on Friday.

An ED assistant director and three other officers were grievously injured and admitted to hospital. As Sheikh's supporters attacked the officials and their cars with bricks and bamboo sticks, the raid on the Trinamool Congress leader could not be conducted. Sections of the mob raised slogans in favour of Shahjahan Shiekh before the events turned violent.

Shahjahan Shiekh is considered to be a close aide of State Minister Jyotipriya Mallick who was arrested in connection with the multi-crore ration distribution scam.

"This kind of attack is unprecedented. We have sent a report on Shiekh Shahjahan to our Delhi office," the ED officer told The Daily Guardian.

State President Sukanta Majumdar shot off a letter to Amit Shah while Leader of the Opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, spoke to the Home Minister to demand an NIA investigation.