Mamata Banerjee Questions Arms Seizure in Sandeshkhali, Alleges CBI Planting Evidence
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee expressed skepticism over the recent arms seizure in Sandeshkhali, claiming that the CBI conducted searches without informing the state police and that the recovered items might have been planted by the central agency.
"Even if a firecracker goes off in Bengal, the NIA, CBI, NSG are coming to investigate. It seems that a war is going on. The state police were not informed. It is not known what was found. There was no evidence. The seized items might have been brought by them (CBI) in a car," Banerjee said at an election rally in Jalpaiguri.
The CBI, on the other hand, maintains that the arms and ammunition, including a police service revolver and foreign-made firearms, were seized during legitimate searches at the premises of an associate of suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh. These searches were conducted in connection with the January attack on an ED team by a mob allegedly instigated by Sheikh.
The conflicting claims have further heightened tensions between the state government and central agencies, with Banerjee accusing the BJP-led government of using these agencies to target her party ahead of the upcoming Lok Sabha elections.