Kolkata, June 28 (IANS) Two Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders have been arrested in West Bengal’s East Burdwan district on charges of extortion, corruption, and criminal intimidation, police said on Sunday. Both had been absconding and will be produced before a court.

The arrested leaders have been identified as Sumit Sharma and Syed Kalimuddin alias Bappa. Sumit is a councillor of Ward No. 1 of Burdwan Municipality. He is known to be close to former Trinamool MLA Khokan Das, who was arrested earlier in a related case.

According to the police, Sumit, who is accused of corruption, extortion, and issuing threats, had been away for a long time after the Assembly election results were announced.

A few days ago, the police received information that Sumit had returned to his house in the Lakshmipur Math area of ​​Burdwan. The police conducted a raid and arrested him at his house.

Another Trinamool leader who was arrested is Syed Kalimuddin alias Bappa. The Trinamool block president in the Raina area was arrested near National Highway-19 in the Nababhat area late Saturday night following specific inputs, police said.

He also faces multiple charges, including extortion.

According to the police, Sumit Sharma is accused of extorting money from local residents and traders in Burdwan. He allegedly collected “cut money,” i.e., illegal commissions — in exchange for facilitating access to government schemes.

Meanwhile, Syed Kalimuddin is accused of similarly extracting illegal commissions and assaulting several individuals who failed to pay the demanded cut money.

Police said they are probing all aspects of the complaints against the two.

Police said several cases have been registered across the state against leaders of the former ruling party after the Assembly elections, including allegations of extortion, threats, assault, illegal land acquisition, embezzlement of government funds, and hoarding of relief materials.

Authorities said investigations are ongoing and further arrests may follow.

Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari has warned that everyone who was involved in such crimes will face justice.

–IANS

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