Sandeshkhali Update: West Bengal Police Arrest Third TMC Leader Over Land Grab Charges After Party Suspended Him

Days after being beaten up by the villagers in Sandeshkhali, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Ajit Maity was arrested by West Bengal Police on Monday (26 February).

Maity is the third TMC leader to be arrested after Uttam Sardar and Shiboprasad Hazra over the allegations of land grab and sexual assault by Sandeshkhali villagers in North 24 Parganas district.

After his house was ransacked by villagers, Maity had said on Friday, "My bike was vandalised and they also attacked my wife. They also set fire to one of my storage rooms. They were making false allegations about me."

He also said that police can arrest him if he is found guilty in the probe. He was then detained by the police yesterday and subsequently arrested today.

After the arrest, he toned down and said, "I am repeatedly requesting with folded hands that if I have taken away someone's land or money, then give it in writing to the Police. If I have made a mistake, I will apologise. If any evidence is found against me, I will take responsibility."

Maity is known to be a close aide of TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh, the prime accused in the Sandeshkhali issue. Sheikh is still on the run and the BJP is accusing the ruling government of saving him.

Maity's arrest comes a day after TMC minister Partha Bhowmik disowned him during his visit to Sandeshkhali and said, "He is no more our party leader. We have already suspended him. If he has done wrong, naturally, people would be angry at him."