Villagers, including women, attacked the homes and properties of two prominent Trinamul leaders in Sandeshkhali in the past 24 years, the offensive, despite heavy police presence, capturing the pent-up ire against ruling party leaders in the area.

On Monday, some women ransacked the house of Shankar Sardar, a Trinamul leader and local gram panchayat member in Bermajur, on charges of past atrocities. Villagers said that Sardar was a key member of local Trinamul strongman and main accused Shajahan Sheikh's team. The police detained five women.

The other local Trinamul leader who came in the line of fire was Haladhar Ari, who was appointed as joint local convener of the party along with Shaktipada Rout after Sunday's unceremonious exit of the party's anchal committee president Ajit Maiti within 24 hours of his appointment.

Maiti became the Bermajur anchal committee president on Saturday, replacing Sirajuddin, the brother of absconding Shahjahan. Maiti, who told media on Sunday that he wanted to quit, was removed amid violent agitation by people, especially women, for alleged wrongdoings.

Maiti was arrested by the police on Sunday night.

"These developments are very disturbing.... It seems Sandeshkhali villagers are not willing to accept anyone. We can't ignore the fact that women are coming out and organising attacks," said a senior Trinamul leader off the record.

In public, Trinamul leaders condemned such attacks on the houses of party leaders and blamed "provocations by the BJP and the CPM" for the unrest.

The state government has handed over possession of land forcibly taken over by Shahjahan and his aides to around 70 farmers. Decks are being cleared to return plots to other complainants.

"The government is taking action against all accused. Mounting attacks on their houses and families are unfortunate," said state education minister Bratya Basu at a news conference in Calcutta on Monday.

Kunal Ghosh, the Trinamul state general secretary, attacked the BJP for fomenting fire in Sandeshkhali to keep the issue alive till the March 8 rally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Modi is expected to attend rallies in Hooghly's Arambagh and Nadia's Krishnanagar on March 1 and 2, before the March 8 event in Barasat coinciding with International Women's Day.

"The BJP and their cronies in the state, the CPM and the Congress, are fueling unrest in Sandeshkhali before Modi's visit.... It's a political ploy," said the Trinamul leader,
echoing the Sunday remarks of party MP Abhishek Banerjee.

The BJP and the CPM denied any role in what they claimed was the people's uprising in Sandeshkhali against atrocities by local Trinamul leaders for years.

"They can't blame others as the return of land is an admission of guilt," said BJP leader Samik Bhattacharya.