Giving chilling details about the attack on its officers, allegedly by supporters of a Trinamool Congress leader, the Enforcement Directorate has said the mob consisted of 800-1,000 people and that there was an “intention to cause death”.

The agency said three of its officials were severely injured and that people in the mob robbed its personnel of their belongings, including mobile phones, wallets and laptops. 

The attack occurred in Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district on Friday, when an Enforcement Directorate team – accompanied by personnel from the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) – was carrying out searches at three premises belonging to Trinamool leader Sahajahan Sheikh in connection with the alleged Public Distribution Scam. 

While the Trinamool Congress called the incident “a BJP conspiracy” and claimed “unruly elements attached with the central agencies provoked locals”, the BJP has dubbed the continuance of the ruling party’s government in the state “a threat to national security.”

In a statement posted on X, the Enforcement Directorate called Sheikh a convenor of the Trinamool Congress and said, “On one of the premises, the Enforcement Directorate team with CRPF personnel was attacked by 800-1000 people with an intention to cause death as these people were carrying weapons such as lathis, stones & bricks.”

“In this incident, three ED officials have been grievously injured. Injured ED officials are being admitted to hospital for treatment. Violent mob also snatched/robbed/stole personal/official belongings of ED officials such as their mobile phones, laptop, cash, wallets, etc. and badly damaged some of the ED vehicles (sic),” the statement said. 

The agency said Sheikh refused to unlock the door and while the team was trying to get it open, the mob gathered within half an hour. It alleged that stones were also thrown at the personnel. 

“Other officers had to escape from the place of the incident without conducting search to save their lives as the mob became very violent and even chased the officials so as to deter the officials from performing their official duty,” it added.

‘Diabolical Move’

The Trinamool Congress called the incident BJP’s “diabolical move of deflecting attention from its own crimes by triggering law and disorder issues”. 

Calling the incident a BJP conspiracy, Trinamool Congress leader Shashi Panja said, “We have heard that the locals of the area were provoked and, consequently, they retaliated. We have repeatedly said that we do not support any violence. We have no issues with any investigation but some people are deliberately trying to create a ‘law and disorder’. They are deliberately trying to frame a situation to defame Bengal.”

Taking aim at Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, who is the leader of the opposition in West Bengal, posted on X, “Due to Mamata Banerjee’s assurance and encouragement, criminals like Sheikh Shahjahan have assembled Rohingya to work as his henchmen and establish a reign of terror.”  

Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose also condemned the attack and said, “It is a ghastly incident. It is alarming and deplorable. It is the duty of a civilised government to stop barbarism and vandalism in a democracy. If a government fails in its basic duty, then the Constitution of India will take its course.”

Going into 2024, the streaming calendar isn’t looking too busy. However, there are quite a few highly-anticipated shows releasing this month. Among the biggest releases of the month, there’s the latest addition to the Marvel Cinematic Universe – Echo. The standalone show digs into the deaf and mute character’s fascinating story. The new instalment of True Detective is also making its way to OTT. The crime show has an eager fanbase. Black comedy The Brothers Sun led by Oscar-winner Michelle Yeoh also promises standout performances and an entertaining watch.

Here are all the upcoming Hollywood shows worth checking out in January 2024:

The Brothers Sun

After Everything Everywhere All At Once and A Haunting in Venice, Michelle Yeoh is ready to steal the show in The Brothers Sun. The show sees the Award-winning actress in a family comedy about a gangster from Taipei who must go to L.A. to protect his mother and younger brother after his father was shot by an assassin.

Release date: January 4

Echo

The Hawkeye spin-off spotlighting Alaqua Cox’s Maya Lopez, a native deaf and mute superhero is the latest entrant into the MCU. The show delves into the character’s roots and origins as she goes up against Vincent D’Onofrio’s Kingpin. The show also features Charlie Cox’s much-awaited appearance as Daredevil.

Release date: January 9

Criminal Record

Starring Peter Capaldi and Cush Jumbo, Criminal Record is described as a surprisingly satisfying mystery series. It revolves around two detectives with different styles clashing over an old murder case.

Release date: January 10

True Detective: Night Country

After two brilliant seasons, True Detective returns with another gripping instalment. Written and directed by Issa Lopez, the show features Jodie Foster and Kalki Reis. The two play Alaska-based cops investigating the mysterious deaths of scientists. Fans have been waiting for a worthy follow-up to the first season starring Matthew McConaughey and Woody Harrelson. And it looks like they’re getting it.

Release date: January 14

Griselda

Modern Family star Sofia Vergara is all set to star in an upcoming crime drama based on Griselda Blanco, a Colombian drug lord known as Black Widow and Cocaine Grandmother. The show chronicles her journey starting from the ‘70s as she navigates her personal life with the drug cartel business.

Release date: January 25

Five people were killed in Bangladesh after a passenger train caught fire Friday, with police suspecting an arson attack during unrest ahead of national elections boycotted by the opposition.

Fire service officer Rakjibul Hasan said at least four coaches caught fire on the Benapole Express, arriving in the capital Dhaka from the western city of Jessore.

“We have recovered five bodies,” police commander Khandaker Al Moin told reporters.

Witnesses said the train caught fire at Gopibagh, in an old part of Dhaka near the megacity’s main rail terminal.

An unnamed rescuer told private broadcaster Somoy TV that hundreds had rushed to pull people out of the burning train.

“We rescued many. But the fire spread quickly,” he said.

Somoy TV said some Indian citizens were also traveling on the train.

“We suspect the fire incident was an act of sabotage,” police chief Anwar Hossain told AFP, without giving more details.

Last month the police and government blamed the opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) for another train fire that left four people dead.

The BNP rejected involvement in that incident, saying it had been unfairly blamed as a pretext for a government crackdown on opposition parties.

Bangladesh will vote in national elections Sunday but the BNP and dozens of other parties have boycotted what they have described as a “sham” vote.

Thousands of opposition activists were arrested late last year after a protest campaign demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)