KOLKATA, India – Two individuals have been arrested in connection with the assault on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team that took place in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district. Mehboob Mollah and Sukamal Sardar were taken into custody following the violent attack on the probe agency team during a raid on the residence of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shajahan Sheikh. The incident sparked a political firestorm in West Bengal, with Governor CV Ananda Bose condemning the attack and terming the Trinamool-ruled state as a “banana republic.” The ED officers were conducting the raid as part of an investigation into a ration distribution scam linked to TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, a close aide of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, who was arrested last year in connection with the same scam.
Residents of Fokir Tokia under Nazat Police station in North 24 Parganas, Mollah and Sardar were identified as part of the unruly mob that attacked the ED officers. The attackers inflicted “grievous” injuries on three ED officers and seized personal belongings, including mobile phones and wallets, according to the probe agency. The Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) personnel accompanying the ED team were also assaulted by the mob. The opposition BJP has termed the attack as a “direct assault on the federal structure,” and called for the imposition of President’s Rule in West Bengal, alleging a threat to national security due to the Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool government’s alleged misrule.
The Calcutta High Court granted interim protection to the ED officials who were attacked by the mob. In response, the TMC accused the ED officials of inciting locals, further escalating the political tension. The incident has caused widespread concern and debate about the state of law and order in West Bengal. Both Mollah and Sardar are in police custody, and the investigation into the assault continues.