Howrah, 22 May (H.S.): The Police and detectives of Howrah City Police arrested absconding Trinamool Congress leader Shamim Ahmed alias Bare from Delhi on Thursday night in connection with allegations of violence and terror activities in Shivpur.

The arrest came after an extensive search operation launched following post-election violence allegations against him. Police sources said several others were also detained along with Shamim Ahmed during the operation.

Earlier, a police raid at his residence in Shivpur had stunned officers after they discovered an allegedly luxurious basement and tunnel-like structure inside the otherwise ordinary-looking house. Videos of the property quickly went viral on social media.

Shamim Ahmed, the TMC ward president of Ward No. 36 of Howrah Municipal Corporation, had been on the run since the May 7 attack on the house of BJP Minority Morcha’s Howrah district president Sikandar Khan at Chowra Basti in Shivpur. The incident reportedly involved bomb hurling and firing. While four accused had already been arrested, Shamim was alleged to be the prime accused in the case.

Questions had also been raised over how the local TMC leader amassed such significant wealth and influence.

Police sources stated that multiple criminal cases are registered against Shamim Ahmed at Shivpur Police Station, including charges related to rioting, illegal arms and criminal conspiracy. He had allegedly been arrested earlier by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) in connection with riot-related cases and had also served jail time in the past.

The police are now interrogating him to uncover the wider network and investigate the alleged criminal activities further.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey