A large area of Sandeshkhali in North 24-Parganas erupted in protest on Thursday as hundreds of women armed with sticks, along with some men, hit the streets demanding the arrests of absconding Trinamul strongman Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.

They claimed the trio had for long unleashed a reign of terror in the area.

Sandeshkhali, 73km from the heart of Calcutta, has been in the news since January 5 after an Enforcement Directorate team, which raided Shahjahan’s home to probe allegations of corruption in ration distribution was attacked by a mob of around 200 men and women who beat them, smashed their cars and forced them to flee on January 5.

At least three ED officers and several journalists, who were tailing the raiding team, were injured in the violence at Sarberia village in Sandeshkhali block. Since then, Shahjahan has been absconding.

Angry villagers, who took on the police on Thursday, said for several years Shahjahan and his aides ruled Sandeshkhali with the support of the police. Angry villagers attacked the homes of Trinamul leaders Shibaprasad and Uttam. They set their properties on fire, unleashing panic among ruling party workers who were also beaten up and forced to flee.

“It is the police that helped the goons rule Sandeshkhali. We have been living in fear because of the activities of Shahjahan and his men. Their oppression had crossed all limits. They tested our patience and now it is our turn to react. Either the police arrest them or they face the consequences,” said Namita Mondal, a villager known to be a Trinamul supporter, but who part in the agitation.

They alleged several criminals like Shahjahan were patronised by the ruling party.

A woman said: “The ruling party goons grabbed the land of many among us. They have beaten up our men if they protested and forced our school-going boys to join political rallies and outraged the modesty of women. They did all these with the connivance police and the cops did not register our complaints.”