ED Action Continues In West Bengal: Raids At Residences Of TMC Minister, Leaders In Civic Body Job Scam

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday (12 January) morning carried out search operations at the homes of West Bengal Fire and Emergency Services Minister Sujit Bose, TMC MLA Tapas Roy and former North Dumdum Municipality chairman Subodh Chakraborty.

These raids are part of an investigation into alleged recruitment irregularities in civic bodies.

The ED, alongside central forces, began their raids early in the morning at Bose's two residences in the Lake Town area of North 24 Parganas district.

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Additionally, the agency raided the BB Ganguly Street home of Tapas Roy and Chakraborty's residence in Birati.

"We are conducting search operations at the residences of three TMC leaders in connection with the recruitments in civic bodies. We are also talking to the leaders," an officer was quoted by news agency PTI.

These raids comes a week after three ED officers were injured and several of their vehicles were vandalised as hundreds of supporters of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh attacked them last Friday.

The attack happened when the ED team went to Sheikh's house in Sandeshkhali for a raid in connection with alleged irregularities in the state's ration system.

While the ED officials, along with CRPF personnel, were trying to have the door opened, they faced a surprise attack.

A mob of over 800 locals arrived with various objects like lathis, stones and bricks, and assaulted the officials.

Slogans were raised against the agency and the Centre, and the official vehicles were vandalised.

The incident reignited the claims by opposition parties of alleged “lawlessness” in parts of the state.

Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose, taking an exceptional stand, said that the state is not a “banana republic”. He termed the latest incident as “alarming” and “deplorable”.

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