Aide of TMC Leader Jahangir Khan Arrested for Extortion and Violence in West Bengal

The West Bengal Police have detained Israfil Chakdar, a close aide of TMC leader Jahangir Khan, on charges related to extortion, intimidation, and assault in the South 24 Parganas district. Chakdar, head of the Bagnanagar-II gram panchayat, was apprehended in the Hasimnagar area within Falta.

Authorities acted on numerous complaints against Chakdar, alleging his involvement in threatening and assaulting locals, as well as extorting money. This arrest occurs in the wake of public protests in Hasimnagar, sparked by accusations that Chakdar's group, backed by Trinamool, hindered voting access and assaulted residents during the recent elections.

These disturbances intensified demands for a re-polling, prompting the Election Commission to cancel the prior electoral process and schedule a new election in the Falta Assembly constituency. In the re-contest, BJP's Debanshu Panda emerged victorious, while Jahangir Khan was placed fourth. Earlier, another aide, Nasir Sheikh, was arrested for similar charges of extortion and worker intimidation in the Falta Special Economic Zone.

(With inputs from agencies.)