Sandeshkhali ED attack: Bengal Police arrest two TMC leaders linked to Sheikh Shahjahan
Synopsis
Two TMC leaders in Sandeshkhali — including the Panchayat Samiti president — have been arrested over the January 2024 attack on ED officials, a case that also ensnared jailed strongman Sheikh Shahjahan. The arrests signal a sharper post-change-of-government reckoning, with investigators now linking the accused to the 2021 post-poll violence as well.
Key Takeaways
West Bengal Police arrested Sabita Roy and Mithu Sardar , two senior TMC leaders, from Sandeshkhali on 20 May .
Both are accused of orchestrating the 5 January 2024 attack on ED officials and Central forces in the Sarberia area of Sandeshkhali.
Mithu Sardar also faces multiple allegations from the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal.
The arrests follow an intensification of the probe after a change of government in the state.
Jailed TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan — the original target of the ED raid — was arrested on 29 February 2024 after evading police for 55 days .
Both accused will be produced before the Basirhat court , where police will seek formal custody.
West Bengal Police on 20 May arrested two senior Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders from Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district in connection with the violent assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on 5 January 2024. Both women are closely associated with jailed TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, whose supporters carried out the attack that left ED personnel and Central forces jawans seriously injured.
Who Was Arrested
The two leaders taken into custody are Sabita Roy, President of the Sandeshkhali-I Panchayat Samiti and Basirhat Organisational District TMC President, and Mithu Sardar, another influential TMC figure in the area. Police said both will be produced before the Basirhat court, where investigators will seek formal police custody.
According to police, the two leaders were instrumental in orchestrating the attack that unfolded in front of Shahjahan's residence in the Sarberia area of Sandeshkhali. Investigators believe a 'big conspiracy' lay behind the assault, during which ED officers and Central forces personnel were set upon with sticks and sharp weapons.
Wider Allegations Against the Accused
The charges against the arrested leaders extend well beyond the 2024 ED attack. Police sources said Mithu Sardar carries multiple serious allegations from the 2021 post-poll violence in West Bengal — including atrocities against opposition political workers, vandalism of homes, and creating a climate of fear in the region following election results. Locals alleged that both leaders had long exercised parallel power in Sandeshkhali under Shahjahan's protection.
Notably, this is the latest in a series of arrests as police intensify the Sandeshkhali investigation following a change of government in the state. From the 2021 post-poll violence to the 2024 central agency attack, police sources claimed the two women played an active role in every incident.
Background: The January 2024 ED Raid and Its Aftermath
On 5 January 2024, an ED team travelled to the Agarhati area under Sandeshkhali Block I in Basirhat to conduct a search operation as part of a ration corruption probe targeting Sheikh Shahjahan, then Executive Director of the North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad. Shahjahan's supporters intercepted the team and attacked them, inflicting serious injuries.
Shahjahan subsequently evaded arrest for 55 days before being apprehended on 29 February 2024. In the intervening weeks — particularly in February 2024 — Sandeshkhali witnessed widespread protests as villagers accused Shahjahan and his associates of land grabbing and sexual harassment of women, bringing the area to national attention.
What Happens Next
With the two fresh arrests, investigators are expected to widen the net of accountability for both the 2024 ED attack and the 2021 post-poll violence cases. The police custody application before the Basirhat court will be a key procedural step that determines how far and how fast the probe advances.
Point of View
Suggesting a pattern-of-conduct argument is being built. The central question is whether the political will to pursue accountability will hold through the courts, or whether the cases — as has happened before in Bengal — will stall at the custody stage. Sandeshkhali became a national flashpoint in early 2024 precisely because it exposed the intersection of local political patronage, land capture, and violence against women; these arrests are a test of whether institutional accountability can follow public outrage.
NationPress
5 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Who were arrested in the Sandeshkhali ED attack case?
West Bengal Police arrested Sabita Roy , President of the Sandeshkhali-I Panchayat Samiti and Basirhat Organisational District TMC President, and Mithu Sardar , another senior TMC leader, on 20 May in connection with the January 2024 attack on ED officials.
What happened during the January 2024 ED raid in Sandeshkhali?
On 5 January 2024, an ED team arrived at the Agarhati area in Sandeshkhali Block I to conduct a search operation in a ration corruption case against TMC strongman Sheikh Shahjahan. Shahjahan's supporters attacked the team with sticks and sharp weapons, seriously injuring ED officers and Central forces jawans.
Who is Sheikh Shahjahan and what is his role in the case?
Sheikh Shahjahan was the Executive Director of the North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad and a powerful TMC leader in Sandeshkhali. He was the primary target of the ED raid; his supporters carried out the attack. He evaded arrest for 55 days before being apprehended on 29 February 2024.
What additional charges do the arrested leaders face?
Beyond the 2024 ED attack, Mithu Sardar faces multiple serious allegations from the 2021 West Bengal post-poll violence, including attacks on opposition workers, vandalism of homes, and creating a climate of terror in the area after election results were declared.
What will happen next in the Sandeshkhali case?
The two arrested leaders will be produced before the Basirhat court, where police will file an application for formal custody. Investigators are expected to pursue charges related to both the 2024 ED attack and the 2021 post-poll violence cases.
