The Enforcement Directorate (ED) arrested Bongoan municipality's former chairman Shankar Adhya in the early hours of Saturday in connection with the alleged ration scam in West Bengal, officials said.

Adhya, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader in the North 24 Parganas district, was arrested at his residence in Simultola, Bongaon, following extensive searches conducted by the agency at properties associated with him and his family members. The searches continued for at least 17 hours on Friday.

After the arrest, supporters of Adhya reportedly attempted to obstruct investigators from taking him into custody, and there were allegations of them throwing stones at the enforcement agency's vehicles. The CRPF personnel who were accompanying the ED team had to baton-charge the mob to bring the situation under control, they added.

"Along with the searches, Adhya was also being questioned. He was arrested as his replies were not satisfactory," an ED officer said.

TMC old-timer and former Food and Civil Supplies minister Jyotipriya Mullick has already been arrested in connection with the alleged ration scam.

Yesterday, the ED's team was attacked and its vehicles were damaged in Sandeshkhali village of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal because of the probe against the leaders of the ruling TrinamoolCongress.

According to the ANI news agency, the ED sleuths were on their way to raid the homes of some local TMC leaders in connection with the alleged ration distribution scam when they came under attack yesterday.

The ED officials were travelling in a car when the vehicle was pelted with stones, breaking the window panes of the four-wheeler. Three officials of the agency sustained injuries in the incident.

On Friday night, a team of the ED raided the residence of Adhya's father-in-law, news agency ANI reported.

Sheikh Shahjahan is the fisheries and animal resources officer of North 24 Parganas Zilla Parishadas well as Block President of Sandeshkhali 1.

The unprecedented attack triggered widespread condemnation, leading the state governor, CV Ananda Bose, to summon Chief Secretary BP Gopalika, Home Secretary Nandini Chakraborty, and Director General of Police Rajiv Kumar. The governor sought a report on the matter in response to the incident.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said law and order were coming apart in the state on Chief MinisterMamata Banerjee’s watch. Addressing reporters in Delhi, BJP spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia said, “The ED officers, who were carrying out an investigation, came under attack by TMC goons and Rohingyas, who infiltrated Bengal. Jungle Raj is prevailing in West Bengal under the very nose of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.”

Senior Congress leader and leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged that he would not be surprised if any official is “murdered” in the state in the future.

The Trinamool Congress (TMC) dismissed the allegations, asserting that officials from the central agency had incited locals, leading to the situation that unfolded during the incident.

Image source: ANI