In a major operation, the Special Task Force (STF) of the state police has successfully apprehended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Jahangir Khan from the Nepal border region. Jahangir Khan, who was the TMC candidate from the Falta assembly constituency, had been evading the authorities since the declaration of the West Bengal assembly election results. According to official reports, he was arrested early this morning while he was allegedly attempting to cross the international border to escape to a foreign country.
Background of the Absconding Leader
Jahangir Khan had been on the run for a significant period. Following the announcement of the election results on 4 May, he remained under the radar, and by 21 May, he had completely disappeared from public view. Interestingly, Khan had withdrawn his candidacy just two days before the actual polling took place in his constituency. Since then, the police had been conducting a widespread search to locate him, eventually leading to his capture near the Nepal border.
Serious Allegations of Electoral Malpractice
The TMC leader faces a series of grave allegations that surfaced even before the elections during the SIR period. He has been accused of attempting to influence Booth Level Officers (BLOs) and illegally adding the names of deceased individuals to the voter lists to manipulate the electoral process. These allegations had created a significant stir in the political circles of Bengal prior to the voting phase.
Intimidation and Special Oversight
Apart from electoral fraud, Jahangir Khan was also accused of intimidating local residents and voters, while shamik Bhattacharya, the State President of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), had personally raised his voice against Khan's activities. Due to the rising complaints of threats and intimidation in the area, the Election Commission had taken the extraordinary step of deploying Ajay Pal Sharma, an encounter specialist from Uttar Pradesh, as a Special Observer to the Dundi police station to maintain law and order.
The EVM Tampering Incident in Falta
The voting process in the Falta assembly constituency was marred by reports of widespread irregularities. During the polling, it was discovered that cello tape had been stuck onto several Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) to obstruct the fair voting process. Jahangir Khan was directly blamed for this tampering. Consequently, the Election Commission was forced to declare the initial voting void and announced re-polling in the Falta constituency to ensure a fair outcome.
Failed Escape and Legal Turmoil
Before his arrest, Jahangir Khan had approached the court seeking legal protection from arrest. However, the state government also moved an application to withdraw any such protection granted to him. Amidst this legal tug-of-war, Khan devised a plan to flee the country via the Nepal route. His plan to escape abroad was foiled by the timely intervention of the STF. This arrest comes at a time when the political landscape in Bengal has shifted Importantly. Following the formation of the BJP government in the state, the police have intensified investigations into various allegations against TMC leaders. This has led to a series of arrests and several TMC members tendering their resignations from the party.