A violent confrontation in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali region left six police personnel injured on Sunday after a mob assaulted them. The incident occurred when officers attempted to arrest a local Trinamool Congress (TMC) worker accused of illegal land encroachment.
Arrest Attempt Sparks Violent Clash
The police team had gone to Boyarmari village under Sandeshkhali block-II to apprehend Musa Mollah, a TMC worker. Mollah was wanted for allegedly illegally occupying waterbodies in violation of court orders. As the police moved to arrest him, a group of locals turned hostile and launched a physical attack on the officers.
The situation quickly escalated, resulting in injuries to six members of the police force. Following the clash, law enforcement authorities managed to arrest Musa Mollah and eight other individuals connected to the violence. Additionally, the pradhan and upa-pradhan (head and deputy head) of the Boyarmari-2 panchayat were taken into custody for questioning.
Political Links and Aftermath
A senior police official indicated a possible political connection to the illegal construction activity. "It is alleged that some aides of jailed former Sandeshkhali strongman, Sheikh Shahjahan, attempted to carry out the illegal construction," the official stated. Sheikh Shahjahan is a controversial figure whose home was previously raided by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in 2024, an operation during which ED officials were also attacked.
In response to the latest violence, a large contingent of police was deployed to the area to restore order. The six injured policemen received treatment at Minakhan Hospital and were later discharged. The incident has ignited a fresh political firestorm in the state.
Political Reactions Pour In
The ruling Trinamool Congress was quick to condemn the attack on police personnel. However, the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) seized the opportunity to criticize the TMC, slamming the state's ruling party for the deteriorating law and order situation in Sandeshkhali. This region has remained a political flashpoint, with tensions simmering since the earlier attack on central agency officials.
The event underscores the ongoing challenges of enforcing court mandates and tackling alleged illegal land occupations in sensitive areas of West Bengal, often entangled with local political dynamics.
