Ration scam case: ED search team attacked by TMC leader’s supporters, Governor warns of action

The armed mob, the agency said, “marched towards the ED officials with an intention to cause death”, vandalised cars of the team, snatched their personal and official belongings, and raised slogans against the ED and the Central government.

While the BJP demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee saying law and order had “completely collapsed” in West Bengal, Governor Dr C V Ananda Bose warned the state government he would “explore” his constitutional options and take “appropriate action”.

Describing the incident as “pre-election violence”, Bose said, “If a government fails in its basic duty, then the Constitution of India will take its course. As governor, I explore all my constitutional options for appropriate action in an appropriate manner.”

The Governor summoned state Chief Secretary B P Gopalika, Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty and DGP Rajeev Kumar and sought a full report on the incident.

In the evening, Governor Bose visited the injured ED officers in hospital. Justice Abhijit Gangopadhyay of the Calcutta High Court also visited the hospital and met the ED officers.

Calling the incident “very unfortunate”, the TMC blamed the ED for “intentionally trying to malign” the party’s image.

TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said, “The Sandeshkhali incident is very unfortunate. However, there is serious provocation from the part of Central agencies and Central forces. The agencies are provoking people by reaching different areas every day in the name of a raid under the BJP’s instruction. Every day, episode by episode, an attempt is being made to malign the image of the Trinamool Congress. It has become a trend now.”

Around 7.30 am Friday, a team of ED officers reached Shahjahan Sheikh’s house in Sandeshkhali. The team found the house locked and no one responded to calls.

The ED statement said Sheikh’s “mobile (phone) location at that time indicated that he was inside” the house.

As the ED team waited, a large crowd, mostly supporters of Sheikh, gathered there and pushed away the CRPF personnel accompanying the search team.

The crowd overpowered the officers, vandalised their vehicles and blocked roads. An official said, “Three ED officers received injuries and have been admitted to a hospital. Those injured include an officer of Assistant Director rank.”

Sources said the ED officers, who were bleeding, had to leave the area in an autorickshaw after their car was surrounded by the mob and vandalised.

A local resident told The Indian Express, “Sheikh’s followers gathered outside his house in large numbers and manhandled and heckled jawans of the Central force. The locals vandalised the ED cars, threw stones at them too. Seeing the public reaction, the other ED officers left the spot but even after that, the crowd did not stop. Several people took to the streets with bricks and mortars. Some roads have been blocked.”