In a major breakthrough, the Special Task Force West Bengal Police has arrested fugitive Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Jahangir Khan from an area near the Nepal border after he had been absconding for several weeks.
According to sources, Khan is being brought back to West Bengal, with necessary legal procedures already underway. Officials said he was intercepted while allegedly attempting to flee the country, acting on a tip-off received by the STF.
Khan, a controversial figure from Falta, had earlier withdrawn from the re-election contest just 48 hours before polling. Despite his withdrawal, his name remained on the electronic voting machines under the TMC symbol. When results were declared on May 24, the Bharatiya Janata Party secured a landslide victory in the constituency, winning by over 1.09 lakh votes, while Khan finished fourth with 7,783 votes.
Following the election, Khan went into hiding as his name surfaced in multiple criminal cases. Joint search operations were launched by the STF and the Diamond Harbour district police, who conducted raids at several locations to trace him.
Investigators said Khan took extensive measures to evade arrest. He reportedly kept his mobile phone switched off and logged out of messaging platforms such as WhatsApp to avoid leaving any digital trail, making it difficult for agencies to track his movements.
In a significant legal development, the state government had approached the Calcutta High Court seeking the withdrawal of interim protection granted to Khan. On May 26, the court declined to extend this protection, effectively clearing the way for police to take action against him.
With no legal shield remaining, speculation over his imminent arrest had been growing. Acting on fresh intelligence inputs, STF officials tracked his movements and finally located him near the Nepal border on Monday.
Khan has long been a controversial figure in the region, with allegations of wielding significant influence and instilling fear among local residents. His arrest has brought a sense of relief to many in Falta.
Investigators are now expected to interrogate Khan to gather crucial information related to the cases against him, as well as to identify individuals who may have assisted him while he was on the run.
Also read: Falta re-poll: BJP maintains dominant lead, TMC slips to fourth
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