Police on Sunday arrested former CPM MLA Nirapada Sardar and the BJP’s Basirhat district convener Bikash Sinha on charges of fomenting trouble at Sandeshkhali in North 24-Parganas.
The development came a day after the arrest of Trinamul Congress leader Uttam Sardar and is seen as an attempt to neutralise the mass protests against a section of the ruling party leadership.
Both the BJP and the CPM called the arrests “illegal” and launched separate statewide agitations.
The CPM has alleged a conspiracy behind the arrest as it was Nirapada who had said absconding Trinamul strongman Sheikh Shahjahan was under police protection at a hideout in Sandeshkhali. Shahjahan went into hiding after an attack on a team of officials from the Enforcement Directorate during a raid on his house on January 5.
The CPM has called a 12-hour Sandeshkhali bandh on Monday.
Governor C.V. Ananda Bose returned to Calcutta, cutting short his Kerala tour, and plans to visit Sandeshkhali on Monday.
Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, plans to lead a delegation to Sandeshkhali on Monday, violating prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC.
The police said CPM’s Sardar and BJP’s Sinha were arrested for inciting violence, besides other charges. The former Sandeshkhali MLA was arrested on the basis of a complaint lodged by Trinamul block president Shibaprasad Hazra, a close aide to Shahjahan and one of the two ruling party leaders against whom local people hit the streets.
Trinamul insiders claimed the arrests were made to restore normality in Sandeshkhali, particularly in the wake of protests by women against Shahjahan, Uttam Sardar and Hazra, accusing them of physical and financial torture.
The North 24-Parganas district administration began a probe into allegations of land grab against Shahjahan and his aides. A committee headed by Sandeshkhali II block land and land reforms officer was told to submit a report at the earliest.
Since Wednesday, villagers armed with sticks and sharp weapons had set fire to properties belonging to Hazra and Uttam Sardar.
“Despite Mamata Banerjee’s immense popularity among women, our party has been on the back foot because of strong internal rivalry, inactivity of some senior elected representatives and the attack on ED officials. The BJP and the CPM have become active in some pockets. We came to know that they fuelled the mass agitation in Sandeshkhali, inciting women and forcing many of our party activists to flee the area,” said a Trinamul leader.
“So, we apprehended a difficult situation. Now that a leader each from Trinamul, the BJP and the CPM have been arrested, it will convey a clear message that no unruly behaviour from any party will be tolerated,” he added.
The CPM rubbished the allegations.
“The ruling party is implicating our leaders to cover up its misdeeds,” CPM state secretary Md. Salim said.
State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar said the police were still working under the instructions of Shahjahan.
The governor has called for a comprehensive report from Nabanna on the incidents and held discussions with the top brass of central forces. Bose has stressed that he will continue the fight against violence and corruption in the state.
