Form SIT of CBI, Bengal police to probe attack on ED team, says HC

The Calcutta high court on Wednesday ordered the formation of a special investigation team (SIT), comprising an equal number of officers from both the West Bengal Police and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), to trace Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who allegedly masterminded an attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team that left three officials of the federal agency injured earlier this month.

According to lawyers who represented the two federal agencies, a single bench of justice Jay Sengupta ordered the formation of the SIT, but said that no officer from police stations in North 24 Parganas, where the attack took place, should be deployed in the investigation. The court also said that the SIT can seek assistance from central paramilitary forces to carry out its operations.

“The bench said that a report of the SIT’s investigation cannot be submitted before any other court without its permission. The bench will hear the case again on February 12. The CBI and state police teams will be headed by officers of the rank of superintendent of police,” an advocate involved in the proceedings, who did not want to be named, said.

The court also said that the SIT will probe complaints filed by ED after the attack as well as those filed by the local police against the federal agency, on the basis of complaints by Sheikh’s family.

The ED team was attacked in Sandeshkhali area on January 5 when it tried to search Sheikh’s house in connection with an alleged ration distribution scam. At least three ED officials were injured and their vehicles damaged in the attack by a mob, despite the presence of paramilitary personnel.