According to officials, the agency has been raiding the homes of two block-level officials and their families in North 24 Parganas since Friday morning. ED crew was attacked and their cars were damaged in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district while attempting to search the home of a block-level functionary for the governing Trinamool Congress (TMC) in association with an alleged ration fraud, according to agency authorities.
The agency has been raiding the homes of two block-level leaders, Shahjahan Sheikh and Shankar Adhya, and their family members in North 24 Parganas since Friday morning, according to authorities. Jyoti Priya Mallick, the state food minister, has been detained for her involvement with the alleged scheme.
They said that as the NIA team attempted to break down the door to Sheikh’s residence following numerous requests, dozens of people gathered nearby, chanting slogans. According to a neighbour, they also assaulted the officials and destroyed at least one vehicle. It was unknown whether Sheikh or any of his family were there.
“A car was damaged, and ED officers were attacked”. The news media was also singled out. “ED officials were forced to flee the scene,” alleged the resident. According to an ED official, they are safe. “The investigation had to be called off.” “We’re returning to Kolkata,” the official informed reporters.
Scam involving ration distribution
Notably, Sajahan is a close associate of state minister Jyotipriyo Mallick, who was detained in connection with the multi-crore ration allotment fraud. His followers allegedly attacked authorities and central forces soldiers when they attempted to break the lock on the gate of his house, which the TMC leader refused to unlock despite repeated requests. It should be noted that ED agents are conducting searches in 15 locations throughout West Bengal related to the ration distribution scandal.