Kolkata, 08 June (H.S.) :

Jahangir Khan, a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader and election candidate from Falta, has been arrested by the West Bengal Special Task Force (STF) near the Nepal border, police sources said on Monday.

According to officials, Khan was apprehended while allegedly attempting to flee the country through the Indo-Nepal border route. He is being brought to Kolkata for further legal proceedings.

Sources claimed that the STF acted on specific intelligence inputs indicating that Khan, who was reportedly absconding, was trying to cross into Nepal when he was intercepted and detained.

Police also stated that a case was registered against him in 2019. While he had previously obtained interim protection from the court, that relief was extended during earlier legal proceedings linked to electoral developments in the Falta constituency.

However, on May 26, the Calcutta High Court reportedly withdrew all protective orders granted to him, clearing the way for law enforcement agencies to proceed with action against him.

The case is also linked to allegations of irregularities during the electoral process, including claims of disturbances at polling booths in Falta during the final phase of voting on April 29. Allegations of electronic voting machine manipulation and other irregularities had been raised, leading to demands for re-polling in certain areas.

The Election Commission had subsequently ordered repolling in affected booths, while final results from remaining constituencies were declared on May 4 amid heightened political tension in the state.

Khan had previously been in the news for his political statements and clashes during the election period. Security forces had also conducted searches at his residence ahead of polling, further escalating controversy around his role in the constituency.

Investigations into the matter are ongoing, and Khan is expected to be produced before the appropriate court following his arrival in Kolkata.

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Hindusthan Samachar / Satya Prakash Singh