The West Bengal Police on Monday morning arrested Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Ajit Maity from the trouble-torn Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district on the charges of land grabbing from villagers.

Maity, considered a close aide of absconding TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh, was detained on Sunday evening from the residence of a civic volunteer where he had locked himself for over four hours after being chased by villagers, police said.

Meanwhile, after getting over 70 complaints, the police lodged an FIR against absconding TMC leader and prime accused in the matter, Shajahan Shiekh, he said.

Most of the complainants claimed that Shajahan was actively involved in the forcible acquisition of their land and torturing of local women, the police officer said. Angry villagers had attacked Maity a couple of days back for his alleged ties with Shajahan and his group, accused of land grabbing and sexual assault on local women.

The riverine Sandeshkhali area, situated about 100 kilometres from Kolkata on the borders of the Sunderbans, has been witnessing protests since the first week of February over allegations of sexual atrocities and land grabs by local TMC leaders. One of the key accused Shahjahan Sheikh has been evading authorities since a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate officials, who had gone to search his premises in Sandeshkhali in connection with a corruption case, on January 5. Shiba Prasad Hajra and Uttam Sardar, considered close associates of Sheikh, were, however, arrested.

Here are some top developement in the Sandeshkhali issues:

• Police said, “We have arrested Ajit Maity after getting complaints from villagers regarding land grabbing. We will produce him in the court later in the day.”Police arrested Ajit Maity after a TMC delegation visited the restive Sandeshkhali for the second consecutive day on Sunday and heard the grievances of villagers who have been protesting against alleged atrocities by local leaders of the ruling party.

• TMC national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday asserted his party was not protecting its absconding leader Shajahan Sheikh, accused of “sexual abuse and land grab” by Sandeshkhali villagers, even as police halted a probe panel from visiting the area to investigate complaints of atrocities against women.

• An independent fact-finding panel led by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court L Narasimha Reddy was stopped by police citing Section 144 CrPC, a TMC delegation visited the area for the second consecutive day and heard grievances of villagers who have been protesting against alleged atrocities by local leaders of the ruling party.

• ISF leader Ayesha Bibi was arrested from Sandeshkhali on Sunday for her alleged involvement in burning poultry farms of arrested local TMC leader Shibaprasad Hazra, an officer said.

Source: News 18