Kolkata, Jan 6 (NationPress) Bengal police have apprehended Musa Molla, identified as the main suspect involved in the assault on police officers in the Sandeshkhali region of North 24 Parganas district last week. His arrest occurred on Tuesday in the vicinity of the Nazat police station.

Musa is recognized locally as a Trinamool Congress operative. Following his arrest, the police confirmed that a total of 13 individuals have been detained in connection with this incident.

Reports indicate that Musa was charged with illegally occupying land. In response to this claim, the court enacted Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) on the property, prohibiting any construction activity. Allegedly, Musa defied this order and began erecting a wall on the land last Friday night.

Upon receiving tips about the situation, officers from the Rajbari outpost proceeded to the site. Subsequently, they visited Musa's residence in the Boyarmari area, requesting his presence at the police station. It is alleged that Musa rallied his supporters, who then attacked the police personnel. This confrontation resulted in injuries to four officers and damage to a police vehicle.

The incident escalated tensions in the area, prompting a swift police response that led to the arrest of multiple individuals linked to the attack. Nine suspects were taken into custody on Saturday, followed by three additional arrests on Sunday, including Musa's grandfather, Mortaza Molla.

Despite the ongoing manhunt, Musa remained elusive until his recent capture. A senior officer from the Basirhat Police District stated, "Musa will be presented at the Basirhat sub-divisional court on Tuesday, where we will request his police custody for further investigation into the incident."

On the night of the attack, a police team was assaulted in the same locality where an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team faced a similar fate two years prior.

For context, on January 5, 2024, an ED team visited the Agarhati area under Sandeshkhali block I in Basirhat to investigate a ration corruption case involving Sheikh Shahjahan, a prominent figure within the North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad and a known Trinamool leader.

Shahjahan's followers attacked the ED team, which uncovered significant corruption issues in Sandeshkhali.

In February, the area experienced widespread protests as locals accused Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates of land grabbing and sexual harassment of women. Sheikh was on the run for 55 days following the attack on the ED team before being arrested on February 29, 2024.