Kolkata, Nov 26: The sleuths of the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Wednesday finally arrested another key accused in the assault on the Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials at Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, nearly two years after the incident.

The person arrested in this connection has been identified as Durant Molla, a close associate of the now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shaikh Shahjahan, once deemed as the uncrowned king of Sandeshkhali.

The main charge against Molla is that he was the one who led the team of Shahjahan’s associates who attacked the ED officials, in which three of the investigating officers were severely injured.

Even the Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel accompanying the ED official also faced the wrath of the mob, who also vandalised several vehicles of the investigating team.

Initially, West Bengal Police investigated the matter. Later, as the CBI took over the investigation, Molla was identified as the one leading the team of attackers.

Although Shahjahan was arrested by the cops of West Bengal Police almost a month after the attack took place on the ED officials, Molla went into hiding and remained untraceable for nearly two years

Finally, on early Wednesday, he was arrested by the CBI sleuths from a hideout in the North 24 Parganas district.

However, the CBI officials were yet to disclose the exact location from where he was nabbed.

Molla will be presented at the court later in the day, and CBI counsel will seek his custody.

Shahjahan, a key accused in the multi-crore ration distribution case in West Bengal, has various other charges against him, including forceful land grabbing at Sandeshkhali, illegal conversion of farmland into pisciculture farms by forcefully flowing in saline water in that land, and sexual exploitation of the local women at Sandeshkhali.

Mumbai: A 21-year-old collegian suffered burn injuries after his friend set him ablaze during his birthday revelry in Kurla area of Mumbai on Tuesday, leading to the arrest of five of his friends, police said.

A friend of Abdul Rehman Khan called him up in the morning and asked him to come down to meet them. When Khan arrived at the spot, his five friends made him cut a cake and threw eggs and stones at him.

One of them, identified as Ayaz Malik, brought a bottle of petrol he had kept in his scooter and poured it on Khan. Despite protests by Khan, Malik started a fire using a lighter, police said.

Khan ran towards the watchman’s cabin and asked him to pour water on him. He was rushed to a hospital, where he is undergoing treatment for burn injuries he received on his face, hands, and chest.

Based on Khan’s complaint, police registered an FIR under section 110 (attempt to commit culpable homicide) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita.

All five individuals, including the main accused Ayaz Malik, Ashraf Malik, Kasim Chowdhary, Huzaifa Khan, and Sharif Shaikh, have been arrested and remanded in police custody.

Kannur (Kerala), Nov 25: V.K. Nishad, the CPI-M candidate contesting from Ward 46 of Kerala’s Payyannur Municipality, now faces a serious legal roadblock to becoming a people’s representative after a court here on Tuesday sentenced him to 20 years in prison in an over-decade-old bomb attack case.

If he wins the upcoming local body polls, his ability to assume office will be severely restricted due to this conviction.

The Thaliparamba Additional District Sessions Court sentenced Nishad and fellow CPI-M worker T.C.V. Nandakumar to 20 years’ rigorous imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh each.

However, the court observed that serving 10 years would be sufficient to execute the sentence.

The verdict has sent shockwaves through local political circles, particularly as Nishad is actively campaigning as the CPI-M-backed LDF nominee.

The case dates back to August 1, 2012, when police personnel were reportedly targeted with country-made bombs in Payyannur town.

The attack occurred following heightened tensions over the arrest of senior CPI-M leader P. Jayarajan in connection with the Shuhaib murder case.

According to the prosecution, Nishad and his associates hurled bombs at the police with the intent to kill, prompting charges under IPC Section 307 (attempt to murder) and Sections 3 and 4 of the Explosive Substances Act.

The court, presided over by Additional Sessions Judge K.N. Prashanth, held both accused guilty of attempted murder and illegal use of explosive materials.

The judge noted that the attack was not merely an act of protest, but a deliberate attempt to cause grievous harm to law enforcement officers.

With the local elections approaching, the ruling has thrown up a serious dilemma for the LDF camp.

If Nishad secures a win, legal and procedural challenges could prevent him from officially taking charge as a municipal councillor due to disqualification norms linked to criminal convictions.

As the political and legal ramifications unfold, Payyannur and Kerala watch closely.