A war of words has broken out on social media after the Leader of Opposition in the state Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari accused the state police of conspiring to shield absconding Trinamul Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan.
The leader is said to be the mastermind behind the attack on ED and CAPF personnel at Sandeshkhali in North 24-Parganas district on 5 January.
Adhikari said that the absconding Trinamul Congress leader has been in the safe custody of Mamata Banerjee’s police. “He (Shahjahan) was taken away from the Bermajur-II gram panchayat area after he managed to strike a deal with the police through influential mediators that he would be taken care of while in custody,” Adhikari claimed on X (formerly twitter).
Reacting to the allegations, Trinamul spokesman Kunal Ghosh said that since Adhikari knows everything, he should specify the exact place where Shahjahan is being sheltered now. Ghosh also accused Adhikari of roping in Shahjahan into the Trinamul Congress from the CPM. “He (Shahjahan) was with the CPM, and it was Adhikari who had roped him in Trinamul. There is a picture of the two together. In reality, both enjoy a very close relationship,” Ghosh said. Adhikari, later said while he was delivering his speech near the Gandhi statue on Mayo Road that Shahjahan will be given five-star treatment during his time behind the bars, where he will have access to a mobile phone through which he will be able to keep in touch with his supporters.
The Leader of Opposition also claimed that even a bed will be kept ready for Shahjahan at the Woodburn Ward in the state-run SSKM Medical College & Hospital, usually meant for VVIP patients, in case the absconding Trinamul leader chooses to ‘spend’ some time there.