ED team attacked in North 24 Parganas during a raid

ED officials attacked when they raided the premises of two block-level leaders Shahjahan Sheikh, and Shankar Adhya, and their relatives since Friday morning in North 24 Parganas under the security of central forces.

ED reached the house of 2 Trinamool leaders known to be close to Jyotipriya Mallick along with central forces at 7 am in the morning. State food minister Jyoti Priya Mallick has been arrested in connection with the alleged scam. Sheikh Shahjahan is the Fisheries and Animal Resources Officer of North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad as well as Block President of Sandeshkhali.

ED officials said when the NIA team tried to break open the door of Sheikh’s house after repeated calls, hundreds of men and women, gathered at the spot shouting slogans. They also attacked the officials and damaged at least one vehicle, a resident told journalists. It was unclear whether Sheikh or his family members were present in the house.

“ED officials were attacked and a vehicle was damaged. Even the media was attacked. ED officials had to flee from the spot,” said the resident.

An ED official said they were safe. “The search operation had to be abandoned. We are returning to Kolkata,” the official said.