Kolkata, 11 June (H.S.) : The dramatic fall of former Trinamool Congress strongman Jahangir Khan came into sharp focus after he was allegedly paraded by police following his arrest near the India-Nepal border, marking a stark contrast to the influence he once wielded in South 24 Parganas.

Khan, a former key functionary of the South 24 Parganas Zilla Parishad and the Trinamool Congress candidate from Falta in the 2026 Assembly election, had been absconding since the expiry of his legal protection on May 28. He was arrested recently from Panitanki on the India-Nepal border after weeks on the run.

Images and videos that surfaced after his arrest showed the once-powerful political leader being escorted by police in casual attire, including shorts, along public roads. The visuals quickly attracted public attention and sparked widespread political discussion, with many pointing to the contrast between his current situation and his earlier image as a dominant political figure in the region.

Khan had long been regarded as one of the most influential Trinamool leaders in South 24 Parganas. He has faced allegations of extortion, intimidation, post-poll violence and attacks on opposition workers, though investigations into those allegations are ongoing.

His political fortunes began to decline after repolling was ordered in the Falta Assembly constituency by the Election Commission. Just 48 hours before the scheduled repoll, Khan announced that he would not contest and subsequently disappeared from public view. Following the change of government in West Bengal, law enforcement agencies intensified efforts to trace him.

The contrast between Khan’s recent arrest and his earlier public persona has become a major talking point. Only weeks before going into hiding, he had projected a defiant image, invoking the popular film character “Pushpa” and suggesting that he would remain unshaken by political and legal challenges.

After his arrest, Khan was produced before the Diamond Harbour Sub-Divisional Court. Reports indicated that a legal aid lawyer eventually represented him after no private counsel initially appeared on his behalf. He also reportedly faced protests and public hostility while being taken to court.

The episode has come to symbolize the rapid reversal of fortunes for a leader who once exercised considerable influence in the region but now finds himself at the centre of multiple investigations and legal proceedings.

Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh