Kolkata: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Friday recovered arms and ammunition, including foreign-made pistols and revolvers, and suspected improvised explosive devices during searches at two premises in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali village in the case related to the January assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials there.
Commandos from the home ministry’s counter-terror unit National Security Guard (NSG) took over Sandeshkhali amid the CBI searches, and a team from the bomb disposal and explosive ordnance disposal unit, along with remote-controlled robots and mechanised weapons, was seen searching homes and setting up bomb disposal sand pits in the village.
Sources in the CBI told ThePrint that five teams, along with central force cover, had reached Sandeshkhali to carry out investigation in the ED assault case — an action that the state’s ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) termed a tactic of the BJP-led central government to “divert attention” from the political fight in the state for the ongoing Lok Sabha polls.
“Some items suspected to be country-made bombs have been recovered and are being handled by the teams from the NSG. The search is continuing,” a CBI release stated Friday night.
The attack on ED officials had come while the team was on its way to raid the home of Sheikh Shahjahan — local TMC strongman — in connection with a probe into an alleged ration scam.
Friday’s recoveries were made from two premises in Sandeshkhali barely 50 metres from Shahjahan’s house.
“During investigation of this case, information was received that the items lost by the ED Team and other incriminating articles may be hidden at the residence of an associate of Sk. Shahjahan at Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas. Accordingly, the team of CBI along with CRPF personnel searched 02 premises at Village Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas, today,” said the CBI statement.
During Friday’s search, the CBI recovered one Colt official police revolver, three foreign made revolvers, one Indian revolver, one foreign-made pistol, 120 9mm bullets and more than 200 cartridges. Besides, the CBI also seized “incriminating documents related to Shahjahan”.
The central agency had filed a case and began an investigation into how ED officials were attacked in Sandeshkhali and who provoked the villagers, following orders from the Calcutta High Court.
Shahjahan was arrested by the West Bengal Police on 29 February and is currently in CBI custody.
Also Read: Sheikh Shahjahan set off an ED vs Bengal police battle. But TMC vs BJP will decide his fate
‘A ploy to divert attention’
Amid the high voltage electoral campaign and second phase polling for the Lok Sabha polls, the deployment of NSG to carry out joint operations with the CBI in West Bengal has increased the political temperature in the state.
The Trinamool Congress hit out at the Centre over the action.
“After the first two phases, the BJP knows they are on quicksand in Bengal. Hence, the desperation to distract. First, (PM Narendra) Modi chokes funds owed (to Bengal) and now continues to malign the state. Without keeping the state police in the loop, the BJP is trying to spread terror. We have not forgotten the Gujarat riots, Hathras, Vyapam scam, how our champion wrestlers were treated. We have not forgotten the NRC killings; we have not forgotten Manipur. People will have the final say. The BJP has no answer for their washing machine politics, so this is all a ploy to divert attention,” TMC MP Derek O’Brien said on social media.
After first two phases, BJP know they are on quick sand in Bengal.
Hence the desperation to distract.
First, Modi chokes funds owed and now continues to malign Bengal.
Without keeping state police in the loop, BJP is trying to spread terror.
We have not forgotten the Gujarat…
— Derek O'Brien | ডেরেক ও'ব্রায়েন (@derekobrienmp) April 26, 2024
BJP leader of Opposition Suvendu Adhikari, on the other hand, slammed TMC president and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on X.
“CBI, ED, NIA, NSG, What Next in Sandeshkhali? Army? Huge cache of arms, ammunition and explosives is being recovered in Sandeshkhali. Mamata Banerjee has lost the moral authority to continue as the CM of WB after fostering Terrorists like Shahjahan Sheikh,” he wrote.
ED
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CBI
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NIA
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NSGWhat Next in Sandeshkhali?
Army?
Huge cache of arms, ammunitions and explosives is being recovered in Sandeshkhali.
Mamata Banerjee have lost the moral authority to continue as the CM of WB after fostering Terrorists like Shahjahan Sheikh. pic.twitter.com/yJvLxgr6yy
— Suvendu Adhikari (Modi Ka Parivar) (@SuvenduWB) April 26, 2024
The last time the NSG force was brought to Bengal was during the 2014 Khagragarh blast.
The specialised force was, earlier this year, deployed in Ayodhya, Uttar Pradesh, during the inauguration of the Ram Mandir. It had also been deployed during the G20 summit in New Delhi and the India-Pakistan World Cup match at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium last year.
(Edited by Nida Fatima Siddiqui)
Also Read: TV news on Sandeshkhali showed Mamata Banerjee in a poor light & TMC only made it worse