Sheikh's house at Sandeshkhali

Kolkata, Jan 24 (UNI) The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Wednesday

began raid at TMC leader Sahjahan Sheikh's house at Sarberia,

Sandeshkhali

in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, aided by a company of

armed central forces, in connection with alleged PDS scam.

The raid took place exactly 19 days after an ED team and CRPF

personnel were roughed up by the followers of the Sandeshkhali strongman, evading

arrest, official sources said.

The ED officials took a key repair man, who broke open the collapsible

gates early this morning, and entered the house for the search

operation

at the residence of Sahjahan Sheikh, accused of involvement in the

alleged ration (PDS) scam.

The local TMC leader was a close associate of former food minister

Jyotipriyo Mallick, who was arrested by the ED.

Sources said the West Bengal Police came to ask the federal agency if

it has a search warrant, which was also shown before the search

operation.

Sources said some 13/14 ED officials have been engaged in the search

operation and some one company of CRPF, equipped with combat fatigue

was on guard as well as making a root march in the vicinity.

On January 5 when a small ED team went in search operation, the

alleged followers of the TMC leader attacked them, who fled for life

along with

CRPF jawans after abandoning the raid.

Some three officials of the probe agency were injured and their

vehicles vandalised by a large group of supporters of Trinamool

Congress (TMC) leader

Shahjahan.

Sources said the ED has also taken two local people as witnesses in

the search operation.

The ED has also issued a look-out notice for the TMC's fugitive

leader, who allegedly orchestrated the attacks on the central agency

and para-military forces.

Meanwhile, Calcutta High Court has set up a joint CBI and West

Bengal police team in search of Sahjahan Sheikh.

The ED claimed that the ration scam amounted to over Rs 20,000 crore,

and a portion of the ill-gotten money was transferred overseas,

including Bangladesh.

UNI PC KK