Protest in Sandeshkhali village over 'construction material theft'

Villagers in Sandeshkhali block II protested against the village head and a contractor, accusing them of stealing construction materials. The police intervened to calm the situation at Durga Mandap village. The area has been relatively peaceful despite ongoing protests in other villages over issues like sexual atrocities and land grabbing. Several TMC leaders, including Shajahan Sheikh, are currently in custody for various charges, with Sheikh facing CBI custody for a mob attack on ED officials.

A village in Sandeshkhali block II witnessed protests on Wednesday over allegations of theft of construction materials against the village head in collusion with a contractor.

The villagers gheraoed the village chief and the contractor alleging that they were stealing the materials like bricks meant for a development project, sources said.

A police team pacified the protesters and brought the situation under control at Durga Mandap village, an official said.

Several villages in Sandeshkhali block II witnessed continued protests over alleged sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing, but the Durga Mandap area had been relatively peaceful then.

A number of ruling TMC leaders in the area, including the alleged kingpin Shajahan Sheikh and his associates Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar are behind bars at present over various charges.

Sheikh is in CBI custody in connection with a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials when they went to search his premises at a village in Sandeshkhali block I on January 5.