BJP, Trinamool Lock Horns Over Arms Haul in Sandeshkhali; TMC Writes To EC Over CBI Raids

The massive recovery of arms and ammunition in multiple locations in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali on Friday triggered a spat between the Bharatiya Janata Party and Trinamool Congress with the saffron camp alleging the ruling party of facilitating and shielding terrorists in the state.

BJP IT Cell Chief Amit Malviya accused the TMC of defending rapists and creating a safe haven for terrorists adding that the people of Bengal are fed up with Mamata Banerjee’s government.

“It has perhaps dawned on the TMC that the people of Bengal are fed up with a Chief Minister, who defends rapists and has turned Bengal into a haven for terrorists and illegal weapons. Bomb-making is the only thriving industry in Bengal,” Malviya added.

In contrast, the TMC wrote a letter to the West Bengal Chief Electoral Officer denouncing the CBI raids in Sandeshkhali on the day of the second phase of the Lok Sabha elections. The party accused the poll body of turning a ‘blind eye’ to the actions of central probe agencies, particularly during the election periods.

Questions Raised by TMC

In a letter addressed to the poll body, the TMC raised questions about the need for strict guidelines to central investigating agencies from disrupting the campaign efforts of opposition parties.

They also asked why the state police were not informed of the CBI raid and why the Bengal bomb disposal squad was not used during the probe. The TMC further alleged that the raids were carried out to malign the image of Bengal and its law and order.

The TMC also alleged if there was no way to know whether it was recovered during search or surreptitiously kept there by CBI?

“Media was fed news that this house was of TMC supporter were nothing has been proved,” it added.

For the unversed, the CBI on Friday seized arms and ammunition, including a police service revolver and foreign-made firearms, during searches at two premises of an associate of now-suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali.

The searches were conducted in connection with the January attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team by a mob that was allegedly instigated by Sheikh, who was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29 in the case.

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