The Indian state of West Bengal’s Police registered three criminal complaints Sunday against unidentified individuals regarding an assault on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in the Sandeshkhali region of North 24 Parganas district. Furthermore, the ED officials have themselves been charged in one criminal complaint for alleged offences of criminal trespass and intending to outrage a woman’s modesty.
The police registered three criminal complaints in connection with the incident. The complaint against ED officials alleges that the officials tried to enter a Trinamool Congress (TMC) party leader’s residence without presenting a search warrant, violating the law. The complaint included charges under IPC sections 441 (criminal trespass), 379 (intention to commit theft) and 354 (outraging a woman’s modesty). The other two criminal complaints against the assault on ED officials involve charges under IPC sections 147, 148, 149 (rioting), and 353 (assault on public servants).
ED, in a statement on Friday, had reported an assault on their team conducting operations in the state of West Bengal. They stated in a tweet:
ED was conducting searches on the three premises of Sahajahan Sheikh, Convenor of TMC, North 24 Parganas in case of PDS scam of West Bengal. During the searches. On one of the premises, ED team with CRPF personnels was attacked by 800-1000 people with an intention to cause death as these people were carrying weapons such as Lathis, stones & bricks. In this incident 3 ED officials have been grievously injured. Injured ED officials are being admitted to hospital for treatment. Violent mob also snatched/robbed/stole personal/officials belongings of ED officials such as their mobile phones, laptop, cash, wallets, etc. and badly damaged some of the ED vehicles.
The alleged corruption in the Public Distribution System (PDS), known as the “ration scam” in West Bengal, involves the supply of rice, wheat and flour in lesser quantities than mandated to fair price shop distributors, where the surplus grain is allegedly sold in the open market for profit. The investigation gained momentum in May 2020 during the national lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with protests in West Bengal over irregularities in PDS grain distribution. TMC leaders have been implicated in this case. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) initiated an investigation into the allegations, leading to the arrests of TMC leaders in October 2023.
The event triggered a confrontation between the leaders of India’s ruling party, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), and the TMC, with both sides accusing each other of abusing their authority. The opposition, including the TMC, has consistently claimed that the BJP misuses central investigative agencies to target political rivals, particularly in the lead-up to general elections for the lower house, which will also decide the position of Prime Minister. Meanwhile, the BJP alleges the opposition engages in corrupt practices and power misuse.
