The development came on a day when a six-member team of the state's child rights' commission visited Sandeshkhali after villagers alleged that a sevenmonth-old toddler was snatched from his mother's lap and thrown away by miscreants.
Hazra was arrested from Nazat in North 24 Parganas district, police said, adding he will be produced before a local court on Sunday.
Hazra's arrest came hours after the police added charges of gangrape and attempt to murder in one of the cases, in which his party colleague Uttam Sardar has also been arrested, based on a statement recorded by one of the survivors under Section 164 of Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) before a magistrate.
Eighteen people, including Hazra and Sardar, have been arrested so far in connection with various cases registered over complaints of sexual assault, land grabbing and inciting violence in Sandeshkhali.
"We arrested Shibaprasad Hazra late on Saturday evening," a senior IPS officer from Basirhat police district said.
Both Hazra and Sardar, who was arrested on February 12, are close aides of Sheikh Shahjahan, the absconding TMC leader facing a host of allegations, including money laundering, sexual harassment and land grabbing.
Bu hikaye Hindustan Times dergisinin February 18, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber ? Giriş Yap
Bu hikaye Hindustan Times dergisinin February 18, 2024 sayısından alınmıştır.
Start your 7-day Magzter GOLD free trial to access thousands of curated premium stories, and 9,000+ magazines and newspapers.
Already a subscriber? Giriş Yap
Out of place high-tension wires kill child, case filed
A two-and-a-half-year-old boy was electrocuted on the terrace of his house near Alipur, on Delhi's northern fringe, after he touched a low-hanging high-tension wire, police said on Thursday, once again underscoring the city's brittle and hazardous public infrastructure, which has claimed more than 40 lives in such incidents this year alone.
Never repeat tree-felling in Ridge, says SC
We will direct them to restore the 1,670 trees, ideally in the ridge, and as reparation replant 100 trees (saplings) for each tree cut.
Man kills woman's father for opposing relationship
A 62-year-old man was murdered, allegedly by his daughter's boyfriend, in Narela on October 20 because he was against the relationship, police said, adding that the matter was only reported on Monday and accused was arrested the same day.
Devotees celebrate Chhath Puja at ‘ghats' amid tougher norms
Devotees across Delhi celebrated Chhath Puja on Thursday by submerging themselves in artificial \"ghats\", as access to the river's natural banks was barricaded a day after the Delhi high court refused to lift a 2021 ban imposed on immersions in the polluted river.
Kejriwal, Delhi BJP MPs celebrate with devotees
Political leaders from various parties, including chief minister (CM) Atishi and former CM Arvind Kejriwal, attended Chhath festivities across the city on Thursday.
It's complicated: What Trump means for India-US ties
Understanding what Donald Trump means for India requires an examination of what Trump seeks for America, and placing India, which is an important actor for US strategy but not as indispensable as some in India like to believe, within that framework.
Australia plans social media ban for kids under 16
Australia's Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on Thursday vowed to ban children under 16 from social media, saying the pervasive influence of platforms like Facebook and TikTok was \"doing real harm to our kids\".
Shroud of smog envelops city amid dirty air
Delhi was blanketed by a thick, grey haze on Thursday morning as several city residents, particularly children and the elderly, struggled with issues such as a racking cough and burning in the eyes -annual complaints for the Capital in the winter season.
Farm fires top pollutant list
Despite fewer farm fires in Punjab and Haryana so far this year compared to 2023, they still accounted for over 20% of Delhi's total PM 2.5 (particulate matter with a diameter of less than 2.5 microns) in Delhi over the past three days, according to the Centre's Decision Support System (DSS).
In NGT, Delhi blames Hry for death of fishes
The Delhi Pollution Control Committee (DPCC) has blamed Haryana for fish deaths that occurred on a portion of the Yamuna between Palla and Wazirabad in July, alleging heavy pollution inflow through Haryana's trunk drain number eight. Dead fish were reported from the Yamuna floodplains.