States » EastPosted at: Nov 6 2026 11:53PM


Bengal: Shahjahan’s shadow returns to Sandeshkhali as aide held for molesting tribal woman

Kolkata, Nov 6 (UNI) Tension gripped Sandeshkhali in North 24-Parganas following allegations that a tribal woman was molested by a man said to be close to expelled Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan.
The arrest of the accused, identified as Kader Molla, triggered protests by local women, who took to the streets demanding stringent punishment. A huge contingent of police was deployed in the locality.
The incident reportedly took place in the Nazat police station area. According to the complaint, the woman had taken her son to a private tutor. While returning home with the child after the tuition class, she was allegedly intercepted by Molla, who was once known to be an associate of Shahjahan.
The accused allegedly stopped the woman, behaved indecently with her and molested her in front of her son. The woman subsequently lodged a complaint with Nazat police, following which Molla was arrested on Friday.
The arrest has brought back memories of the allegations of sexual harassment and intimidation that had rocked Sandeshkhali in 2024. Local women have alleged that Molla had previously harassed several women and young girls in the village and had even attempted to rape some of them. They claimed that his alleged proximity to Shahjahan had prevented victims from approaching the police.
A relative of the complainant alleged that Molla had repeatedly targeted women but that nobody had dared to lodge a police complaint when Shahjahan wielded considerable influence in the area.
"He remained quiet for some time after Sheikh Shahjahan was arrested. Now he has started operating again," the relative alleged.
Sandeshkhali had witnessed widespread protests in January 2024 after Enforcement Directorate officials, who had gone to Shahjahan's residence in the Nazat police station area in connection with the ration distribution scam, were allegedly attacked by his supporters.
Shahjahan, then the Trinamool Congress president of Sandeshkhali-I block and a district council fisheries functionary, was subsequently arrested in connection with several cases, including the ration distribution scam, and expelled from the party. Allegations of sexual violence and land grabbing against his associates had triggered widespread political controversy.
Local women have now demanded that Molla face exemplary punishment.
"We want him to be punished severely. His punishment should send a clear message to Shahjahan's other associates that such acts of intimidation and oppression will no longer be tolerated in Sandeshkhali," a local woman said.
On Friday, Nazat police produced the arrested accused before the Basirhat sub-divisional court, seeking his custody for further investigation. The court sent him in judicial custody.
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