Two TMC Women Leaders Arrested in Connection with Violent Attack on ED Officials in Sandeshkhali

Sandeshkhali, West Bengal : Two prominent women leaders of the Trinamool Congress (TMC), Sabita Roy and Mithu Sardar, have been arrested by West Bengal police for their alleged involvement in the violent attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team in Sandeshkhali .

Sabita Roy, who serves as the President of the Sandeshkhali-I Panchayat Samiti and the Basirhat Organizational District TMC President, along with Mithu Sardar, reportedly exercised parallel authority in the Sandeshkhali region under the patronage of Sheikh Shahjahan, a former influential figure also arrested for his role in the attack.

The incident unfolded on January 5, 2024, when an ED team arrived at Shahjahan’s residence in the Agarhati area of Sandeshkhali to conduct a search linked to a ration distribution scam investigation. The team faced a brutal assault by supporters of Shahjahan, resulting in injuries to several officials and personnel.

Sheikh Shahjahan was taken into custody on February 29, 2024, more than seven weeks after the attack. Subsequent investigations by the ED and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) have implicated Sabita Roy and Mithu Sardar as active conspirators behind the attack.

Authorities have revealed that the criminal activities attributed to these leaders extend beyond the assault on the ED team. Mithu Sardar, in particular, faces multiple charges related to post-2021 election violence, atrocities against opposition party workers, vandalism, and allegations of sexual harassment against women in the region.

The Sandeshkhali area has long been marred by issues such as land grabbing, political violence, and abuses against women. These problems led to widespread protests earlier in 2024. Since the inauguration of the BJP government in West Bengal, law enforcement agencies have stepped up efforts to probe these cases rigorously.

Both Sabita Roy and Mithu Sardar are scheduled to be produced before the Basirhat Court, where police will request their judicial remand as investigations continue.

This development marks a significant step in addressing the persistent law and order challenges in Sandeshkhali and reflects the intensified scrutiny under the new BJP state administration.