Calcutta HC set up a joint SIT to probe attacks on ED officials, look for Shahjahan Sheikh

ED officials and the Central Forces were attacked when they went to raid an alleged ration scam in West Bengal.

A single-judge bench of Justice Jay Sengupta ordered the probe to be conducted by the SIT, comprising the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and West Bengal Police.

"The Superintendent of Police, Islampur, will be the state's nominee. Both the CBI and state will have an equal number of personnel in the SIT, which shall be at liberty to requisition Central Forces. The SIT will submit its report before this court by February 12," the judge said.

The order was issued after the ED sought a court directive for a CBI inquiry, as the state police so far could not arrest the alleged mastermind of the attacks.

The judge also ordered the installation of CCTV cameras in front of the house of the TMC leader to gather information on the whereabouts of the fugitive.

On Jan 5, hundreds of local people allegedly surrounded the ED officials and CRPF jawans and beat them up, forcing them to abandon the search operation and run for their lives.

The ED also issued a lookout notice for Shahjahan Sheikh.