2024-04-27 10:53:52
This is how the search campaign was planned
CBI said that in this case, along with CRPF, raids were conducted at two places on Friday. One police revolver, three foreign revolvers, two Indian-foreign pistols and 348 cartridges have been recovered. CBI said that during the investigation in this case, input was received that the missing items of the ED team were hidden at the house of an associate of Sheikh Shahjahan, resident of Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas. Acting immediately on the information received, CBI along with CRPF contingent raided Sheikh Shahjahan’s associate and another place. CBI also said that many objectionable documents related to Sheikh Shahjahan have also been recovered. There is also suspicion of these being country made bombs. NSG is investigating this.
A massive search operation continued throughout the day.
Officers said that for the action in Sarberia of Sandeshkhali, a consignment of NSG commandos and CRPF personnel along with CBI had to be deployed. A vigorous search operation was carried out throughout the day. Trinamool Congress has termed this search campaign as a political drama with the Lok Sabha elections. He said, ‘They want to keep the Sandeshkhali issue alive. This is a well-planned conspiracy and drama to influence the voting process. The impact is coming directly from Delhi. Party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said that the police should be more cautious.
Mullah Sarberia, brother-in-law of Hafizul Khan
A 10-member CBI team investigating the attack on ED officials on January 5 went to the Malikpara residence of Abu Taleb Mollah, a relative of the Gram Panchayat member. He said, ‘We had received information that the items lost by ED officials during the search on January 5 might be hidden inside a house. Mulla is the brother-in-law of senior TMC member of Sarberia-Agharati Gram Panchayat, Hafizul Khan.
Explosives detected with metal detectors
CBI officers said that the family has many fish farms in this area. A search operation was conducted in those houses full of fish. During the search, officials found weapons buried underground inside a hut and the NSG was contacted. Before the NSG team reached the spot, CRPF personnel kept the media persons away and started searching using metal detectors. Suspecting a buried cache of bombs, they searched dry land at Bhedij (Fish Farm).
NSG commandos entered the field dressed like robots
The NSG team arrived around 3 pm and deployed a bomb disposal robot. The robot, equipped with mechanized hands, took out a large bag from the house and placed it in a safe area. NSG officials recovered five revolvers including a Colt Official Police and a foreign made pistol. Apart from this, 348 cartridges and bullets of different caliber were found buried under the house. Officials have also found some documents related to suspended TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan.
Many crude bombs also recovered
CBI officials said some crude bombs were recovered which were handed over to the NSG team for disposal. According to sources, a comprehensive report will soon be sent to the Union Home Ministry. Meanwhile, the Bengal government moved the Supreme Court challenging the Calcutta High Court’s April 10 order for a CBI probe into allegations of land grab and sexual harassment in Sandeshkhali. The case will be heard on April 29.
There were preparations to spoil the atmosphere of voting day in Sandeshkhali?
It is believed that weapons, explosives and crude bombs were kept there to spoil the atmosphere on the day of voting in the Lok Sabha elections. Sources said, after the arrest of Shahjahan and increased movement of various central agency officials and CAPF personnel in Sandeshkhali, those responsible for storing the weapons could not remove them. Sandeshkhali falls under Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency, where voting is to be held in the seventh and last phase on June 1.