TMC strongman ‘Gabbar’ held in Mum in Shibpur violence case

Howrah: Three Trinamool functionaries, including party's Shibpur strongman Shamim Ahmed alias "Gabbar", were arrested in separate cases linked to violence, intimidation and fraud on Thursday.Gabbar, president of Trinamool ward 36, was arrested from a rented flat in Chembur, Mumbai, on Thursday night. His wife, Shamima Bano, a former councillor of ward 36, is on the run. Police said Gabbar had been staying in a two-room flat owned by Mahasin Sk, a local Congress neta in Chembur. He is being brought to Howrah on transit remand.A close associate of TMC MLA and former minister Arup Roy, Gabbar has been accused by BJP of leading a bomb-and-gun attack on a victory procession led by Sikandar Khan, BJP's Howrah minority cell president, on May 7. Three people, including a passerby, were seriously injured.During the probe, police discovered Gabbar's alleged illegal five-storey building on GT Road (South), where an air-conditioned gambling den operated from the rooftop. Officers recovered 140 rams and found lavish interiors, including a large bed with ornate gold panel. A senior police officer said properties worth nearly Rs 170 crore linked to him had so far been detected.Gabbar was earlier arrested by the NIA in connection with violence during a Ram Navami procession and is currently out on bail.Meanwhile, police arrested Sheikh Wasul, a Trinamool labour union functionary in West Burdwan's Faridpur block, on charges of political intimidation and job fraud. Investigators alleged he duped unemployed youths by promising jobs and used fear tactics during the assembly polls.Also, South Dum Dum Municipality ward 35 councillor Partha Verma alias Tinku was arrested by Lake Town police in connection with alleged post-poll violence in 2021, including vandalising a medicine shop and forcibly taking over a CPM party office.