Kolkata:

Overseas-made weapons and ammunition have been recovered after the Central Bureau of Investigation raided places in Bengal’s Sandeshkhali in a case associated to violence towards Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers.

The raids come a day after the CBI – tasked with probing allegations of extortion, land seize, and sexual assault towards suspended Trinamool chief Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates – carried out raids on hideouts linked to those that attacked the Enforcement Directorate staff on January 5.

The Bengal authorities has not but responded to the seizure.

That assault – believed to have been carried out by supporters of Shahjahan, on the run instantly after for almost two months earlier than his arrest – led to an avalanche of complaints towards him, and triggered a ferocious political conflict between Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s authorities and the opposition, which included the INDIA bloc of which the Trinamool is, nominally, a member.

As a part of its investigation, the CBI this month opened confidential telephone traces and e-mail addresses to encourage Sandeshkhali survivors to come back ahead and file complaints. Officers stated the company acquired 50 complaints on Day 1, with many about alleged land seize by politically influential individuals.

READ | CBI Will get 50 Electronic mail Complaints In Sandeshkhali Case On First Day

This had been ordered by the Calcutta Excessive Court docket when it handed the case to the company.

READ | Calcutta Excessive Court docket Orders CBI Probe Into Sandeshkhali Allegations

The court docket handed its order whereas listening to petitions asking for exterior businesses to analyze the numerous disturbing allegations. The state authorities acquired a stern reprimand; Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam stated, “Even when one affidavit is appropriate… if one per cent is true… it’s completely shameful.”

READ | “Even If 1% True, 100% Shameful”: Court docket Raps Bengal On Sandeshkhali

The Sandeshkhali row turned a significant flashpoint forward of the 2024 Lok Sabha election, which started final Friday. Immediately is the second of seven phases of polling; Bengal will vote in every part.

Three seats – Alipurduars, Cooch Behar, and Jalpaigiri in North Bengal, all of which have been received by the BJP final time – voted within the first part. One other three – Balurghat, Darjeeling, and Raiganj, once more all received by the BJP within the final election – are voting on this part.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi has been main the BJP’s cost in Bengal – a state through which the saffron celebration has made important positive factors over the previous 5 years because it appears to be like to dislodge the Trinamool and Ms Banerjee. Campaigning for the celebration’s Raiganj candidate this week, he alleged, “In Sandeshkhali, Mamata Banerjee allowed girls to be tortured… so her vote financial institution will not be affected.”

READ | “Vote For BJP, Mamata’s Goons Will Be Hung Upside Down”: Amit Shah

The BJP has accused Ms Banerjee of defending Sheikh Shahjahan, and has moved to area one of many girls who’ve alleged sexual assault – Rekha Patra – from the Basirhat seat, which incorporates the island of Sandeshkhali. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke to Ms Patra on the phone final month and labelled her “Shakti Swaroopa”. “He has blessed us… like Lord Ram…” she informed NDTV.

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