Sandeshkhali: TMC leader Shahjahan held

Fifty-six days after going underground following the mob attack on the Enforcement Directorate raiding party and its escort team of CRPF jawans, Shahjahan Shiekh, the Trinamool Congress leader of Sandeshkhali, was apprehended today barely 23 km from his home.

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In Sandeshkhali, women, who have been protesting the land-grab and sexual exploitation by Shahjahan and his followers, erupted in joy-blowing conch shells, smearing each other with gulal, ululating and distributing sweets." "This is the first piece of good news that we, the women of Sandeshkhali, have received in a long, long time. But we are not sure if this is a got-up game by the Trinamool Congress leadership," said the lady who had mustered the courage to file the first complaint of rape against Shahjahan and his followers.

She told The Daily Guardian that the women were apprehensive about what would happen to them if Shahjahan was to be released since they felt the Trinamool Congress would influence the police to file only minor charges which carry a maximum punishment of two years.

A few days ago, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee had said that Shahjahan had been "framed" and those raising fingers against him were "outsiders in Sandeshkhali".

The State Police informed media-persons that the fugitive Trinamool leader was arrested from his hideout in Bamunpukur in Minakhan block, which was just 23 km from his home Akunjipara in Sandeshkhali block.