Durgapur, 04 June (H.S.) : The police on Thursday arrested Gautam Ghosh, Trinamool Congress (TMC) president of Gogla, amid multiple allegations ranging from illegal sand mining and coal smuggling to intimidation and syndicate-related activities. He was taken into custody by Durgapur-Faridpur Police Station and is currently being interrogated.

Gautam Ghosh's name has repeatedly surfaced in connection with alleged illegal extraction and transportation of sand from the Ajay River. According to local BJP leaders, he was one of the most influential figures behind a large-scale network involved in illegal sand mining and smuggling operations. They alleged that despite continuous extraction of sand from the riverbed, the activities largely escaped administrative scrutiny.

Residents of the area have also accused the arrested TMC leader of involvement in several illegal businesses. Apart from sand mining, Ghosh's name has frequently been linked to alleged coal smuggling operations in the mining belt.

Many locals allege that Ghosh's political influence was so extensive that people were often afraid to speak out against him. According to them, fear and intimidation prevented residents from openly raising complaints regarding the alleged illegal activities.

The BJP has further alleged that Ghosh played an active role in incidents of violence, intimidation, and attacks on opposition workers and supporters before and after the 2021 West Bengal Assembly elections. Local BJP leaders described him not merely as a TMC regional president but as the head of a powerful syndicate network that controlled various activities in the area.

Police sources said multiple complaints had been lodged against Ghosh over a period of time. Following a detailed investigation and the collection of evidence, police moved to arrest him from the Gogla area late Wednesday night after the change in the state's political landscape.

The arrest has triggered fresh political confrontation, with the BJP accusing the TMC of patronizing illegal syndicates and criminal networks. TMC leaders, however, have not yet issued any official statement regarding the arrest.

Police officials said the investigation is ongoing and further action will depend on the findings that emerge during interrogation.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Priyanka Pandey