MHA seeks report from Bengal govt over attacks on ED officials

The Union ministry’s communication to the state government came on a day when Enforcement Directorate (ED) chief Rahul Navin reached Kolkata and met with his officers.

“On Tuesday, Acting Director of ED, Rahul Navin, visited West Bengal to take stock of the situation following the attacks on the agency officials. He will also review the probe into the alleged public distribution and paddy procurement scam in West Bengal and discuss security concerns of the local ED establishment in the backdrop of the attacks on the agency officials,” the sources said.

On Monday, West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar had said that strong action would be taken against those who took the law into their hands. “A comprehensive inquiry will be initiated against those who broke the law,” Kumar said on Monday.

The ED, on the other hand, alleged that the state police registered a case against the arsonists under “weak bailable and non-scheduled offences” and did not provide it with a copy of the FIR.

Last Friday, a team of ED officials was attacked during searches at TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan’s residence in Sandeshkhali in connection with an alleged ration scam case.

With Shahjahan absconding, the ED has issued a look-out circular (LC) against him, alerting all land, air, and seaports to stop him from leaving the country.

Reacting to the MHA seeking a report from the state government, the ruling TMC criticised the Centre, accusing it of being “very prompt” in seeking reports on any issue from governments in states ruled by non-BJP parties, but “astonishingly sluggish” in doing the same when there are law and order issues in BJP-ruled states.

“How many reports have the MHA sought from the BJP government in Uttar Pradesh, where atrocities on women, Dalits, and lawlessness are rampant?” TMC spokesperson Debangshu Bhattacharya said.

Senior TMC MP Sougata Roy said the ED should have informed the local police before conducting the searches. “If the MHA has sought a report, the state government will reply in accordance with the law,” he said.

Earlier in the day, West Bengal Chief Minister and Trinamool Congress supremo Mamata Banerjee alleged that central probe agencies were scripting dramas to conduct raids at houses of TMC leaders as the BJP was “scared” of her party. “Actually, they (BJP) are scared of the TMC. That is why in the name of conducting raids, they (central agencies) are scripting dramas and arresting TMC leaders. They are thinking that by arresting TMC leaders, they will be able to vacate the area and the BJP will have an open ground to play,” Banerjee said at a programme at Joynagar in South 24 Parganas district without referring to the Sandeshkhali incident.