Multiple Trinamool councilors arrested as police widen crackdown across West Bengal

Police have intensified action against several Trinamool Congress councilors across West Bengal, with multiple arrests in separate criminal cases. In Kolkata, Ward No. 134 councilor Shams Iqbal, also known as Anil, was arrested in connection with a 2023 extortion case involving an alleged demand of ₹70 lakh from Mohammad Shadab. Police are also investigating allegations of illegal construction and the operation of an alleged illegal call center. Investigators are examining whether others were involved in the alleged activities.

In a separate incident at Dum Dum Municipality's Ward No. 4, local residents confronted Councilor Tapas Roy and his associates. Police later arrested three individuals, including the councilor. During the investigation, police recovered a large number of voter identity cards, Aadhaar cards and property-related documents from the councilor's office. The recovered documents are being examined as part of the ongoing investigation.

In East Bardhaman, police arrested Bardhaman Municipal Corporation Ward No. 1 councilor Sumit Sharma on charges including criminal intimidation with a firearm, vandalism, assault and molestation. Separately, an attack on the residence of Soma Chowdhury in Kolkata's Aheritola Street area has also come under police investigation. Investigative agencies are continuing inquiries into all the respective cases.