TMC allegedly involved in terrorist voter ID scam, suspected links to Ansarullah Bangla team in Murshidabad

The arrest of Shad Raddi, a suspected member of the banned Bangladeshi terrorist group Ansarullah Bangla Team, has triggered a serious investigation in Murshidabad, particularly the Naoda area, after it was revealed that Raddi held a voter ID registered there. Raddi was apprehended in Kerala, where authorities found the voter ID linked to the Naoda region, raising questions about possible connections between local political groups and extremist organizations. His arrest follows earlier detentions of other individuals, Abbas and Monirul, who are also under suspicion for their alleged ties to the terrorist network.

Raddi's inclusion in the voter list has come under scrutiny due to his familial ties to the Naoda area. His relative, Rakiba Khatun, served as a member of the Naoda Panchayat Samiti, which is run by the Trinamool Congress (TMC), from 2018 to 2023. While there is no direct evidence to suggest that Khatun facilitated Raddi’s voter registration, her position has drawn attention due to the timing and circumstances surrounding Raddi’s inclusion. The local administration has stated that they were unaware of how Raddi's name appeared in the records, and no official complaints have been lodged until now regarding his voter registration.

The local community reported that Raddi occasionally visited his aunt’s house in the Durlabhpur area of Naoda but was unaware of his voter ID registration. District authorities, including Shafiuzzaman Sheikh, the chairman of the district council, have confirmed that they did not know how Raddi’s name was added to the voter list. “We don’t know how the name appeared. If we had known, we would have applied for action earlier,” Sheikh said in response to inquiries about the situation.

Following Raddi’s arrest, the BJP has called for a thorough and impartial investigation to determine the full extent of any political involvement or misuse of authority in facilitating Raddi’s voter registration. The investigation is ongoing, with authorities focusing on uncovering any links between local political networks and suspected terrorist operatives, particularly with regard to voter registration processes that may have been exploited for personal or political gain.