West Bengal

Banerjee contended that the NIA personnel forcefully entered numerous homes during the early hours under the pretext of investigating a "cracker-bursting incident from 2022." She defended the villagers' actions as acts of self-defense, questioning the rationale behind the NIA's late-night visits and implying that any group would naturally retaliate when faced with such intrusion.

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has disclosed its second list of candidates, encompassing 19 constituencies in West Bengal, introducing fresh faces and reaffirming some incumbents across different constituencies, adding a tinge of unpredictability to the selections.

Sahay, belonging to the 1988 batch, currently holds the position of Director General and Commandant General of the Home Guards. He was previously relieved from the role of Director, Security, following a security breach at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s residence back in 2022.

Humayun Kabir, a Trinamool Congress MLA representing the Bharatpur assembly constituency in Murshidabad, has emerged as a prominent critic of this decision. Kabir claims that the party leadership unilaterally announced Pathan's candidacy without consulting the district leadership.

Scheduled to address the rally at Kachari Maidan in Barasat, which is situated in North 24 Parganas where Sandeshkhali is located, PM Modi's event drew significant attention. The state BJP took initiative to arrange buses for the women from Sandeshkhali, who allegedly faced mistreatment by suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his associates, to reach the rally venue, approximately 80 km away.

Expressing deep concern, Modi condemned the distressing events that transpired in Sandeshkhali, labeling them as a blot on society. The region, located on a riverine island in the North 24 Parganas district, has been engulfed in turmoil due to allegations of sexual violence against women and illicit land acquisition orchestrated by Shajahan Sheikh, a suspended leader of the ruling TMC, and his associates.

Following the High Court's order, three CBI officials, accompanied by Central Armed Police Forces (CAPF) personnel, arrived at the CID headquarters located at Bhabani Bhavan around 4:40 p.m. on Tuesday for the official handover of Shahjahan along with all relevant case documents. However, despite over two hours of discussions, the CBI officials departed from Bhabani Bhavan at 7:05 p.m. without Sheikh Shahjahan.