Ghosh said, "Shajahan Sheikh has been hiding under the protection of the police. He is a criminal and has been accused of murder, rape and helping illegal Bangladeshi and Rohingya migrants and cow smuggling."

The police and the local TMC administration allowed him to function and perpetuate the atrocities on the criminals, he said

The riverine Sandeshkhali area -- situated on the borders of the Sundarbans, about 100 kilometres from Kolkata -- has been on the boil for more than a month with protests over allegations of sexual abuse and land grab against local TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, who is absconding, and his supporters

The unrest in the area stems from accusations against Shajahan and his supporters of land grabbing and sexual assault with the local TMC strongman evading authorities since a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate officials on January 5

BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari claimed that there is no development in the TMC's assurance made on Monday that Sheikh would be arrested in seven days