Kolkata/IBNS: West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Tuesday wrote to Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee seeking the arrest of absconding Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan, who has been accused of land grabbing and sexual abuse by local women from Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas, media reports said.

In his letter to the Chief Minister, Bose said he must be stated the reason within 72 hours if the administration fails to arrest Shahjahan, whose aides have also been charged with land grabbing and sexual abuse.

TMC national general Abhishek Banerjee on Sunday claimed police could not arrest Shahjahan due to a stay order by the Calcutta High Court.

Rejecting the claim, the Calcutta High Court on Tuesday said it has put no restraint on police from arresting Shahjahan, a TMC strongman in Sandeshkhali.

Soon after the high court order, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said he hopes the administration will arrest Shahjahan within seven days.

Sandeshkhali incident

The turmoil in Sandeshkhali, a remote block about 80 kms from Kolkata and a part of the Basirhat sub-division of North 24 Parganas district, broke out first in early January when a team of Enforcement Directorate (ED) reached TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan's residence to quiz him in connection with the ration distribution scam in the state.

Shahjahan's aides allegedly assaulted and chased the ED officers turning the area into a political hotspot months ahead of the Lok Sabha elections.

While Shahjahan is now absconding, several women from the village came out with brooms and sticks demanding the arrest of the TMC strongman.

The protesting women have alleged Shahjahan and his aides captured several lands forcefully and sexually harassed them.

Reacting to the allegations, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said in the state assembly on Thursday, "By targeting Shahjahan, ED entered into the area and then created a rift between the Adivasis and minorities."

"If there is any genuine complaint, the government will take action. But first, I have to learn what has happened," she added.