Eight arrested for attempt to storm police station in West Bengal; CM promises strict action

Eight individuals have been arrested in connection with an alleged attempt to storm the Falta police station in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district, with the aim of securing the release of incarcerated local leader Jahangir Khan, a senior police officer confirmed on Wednesday.

The police have named Khan’s wife as the suspected mastermind behind the plan. The incident unfolded on Tuesday, when a group of protesters gathered outside the police station demanding Khan’s immediate release. According to authorities, the demonstration escalated, and police along with paramilitary forces dispersed the crowd. Videos circulating on social media purportedly show some protesters fleeing and jumping into nearby water bodies during the police action.

Reacting to the events, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari, while addressing a government outreach programme called 'Janakalyan Shivir' in Falta, asserted that strict legal measures would be taken against all those involved. He stated that individuals seen attacking police personnel and paramilitary forces in videos would not be spared. The Chief Minister instructed the district superintendent of police to register cases under relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and ensure exemplary punishment to deter such acts in the future.

'The rule of law has been established in Falta. No matter how big a mafia is, the government will teach them a lesson,' Adhikari said, adding that properties of those involved in the attack would be confiscated and auctioned. He emphasised that his government would not tolerate any form of lawlessness and urged citizens not to take the law into their own hands.

Jahangir Khan, who reportedly adopted the moniker 'Pushpa' inspired by a popular Telugu film, was arrested near the India-Nepal border in north Bengal on June 8. He faces multiple charges, including extortion. His detention had sparked local protests, culminating in the attempted storming of the police station. The Chief Minister reiterated that establishing the rule of law remains a top priority for his administration.