Latest news with #SomnathSahoo
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Politics
- Time of India
War of words as BJP youth neta held in Odisha over gold theft
Kolkata/West Midnapore: A BJP youth wing neta was arrested near Odisha 's Jaleswar while attempting to flee after stealing about 100 grams of gold from a jewellery shop, triggering a political war of words. According to sources, the arrested Somnath Sahoo is a resident of Midnapore's Habibpur area. The incident took place around 1.30pm on Thursday, when Sahoo stole ornaments from the Jaleswar shop and escaped in his SUV. A dramatic chase ensued as shop staffers and locals pursued Sahoo, ending with the latter's SUV crashing into a divider about 8km from Jaleswar, near Lakshannath Road area. Locals handed Sahoo over to the police. He was arrested on Thursday night. At a press conference in Kolkata on Saturday, Trinamool showed Sahoo's photos with BJP netas and claimed he was BYJM's district secretary. Making an indirect reference to how BJP had attacked TMC in the south Kolkata campus rape case using photos of the primary accused with TMC netas, party spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said: "BJYM neta Somnath Sahoo... was caught stealing in Odisha and it is all on CCTV. There is a photo of him with Sukanta Majumdar. So, did Sukanta Majumdar send him to carry out the theft? Was there some setting or sharing involved? BJP must clarify this. If these people can show Trinamool photos and make tall claims, why not clarify their own stance after being photographed with a dacoit?" You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata "There is a photo of Sahoo with BJP MLA Hiraan Chatterjee as well. Police of a BJP-governed state arrested Sahoo. Hiraan and Sukanta must answer why they were photographed with him," Ghosh said and added that Sahoo's wife was a BJP candidate in Midnapore municipality elections. Countering Ghosh, Chatterjee said: "The photo was clicked ahead of the 2021 election. I was on the streets campaigning and thousands of people had come to see me, and took photos. It's not possible for me to know whether those taking pictures are thieves or robbers." "The arrest is laudable. BJP is in office in Odisha, but the state's police did not see political colour and I congratulate them for this," he added. BYJM president Indranil Khan, however, said that Sahoo was not an active member. "He didn't even apply for membership during our drive. He might have attended a few programmes and clicked some selfies but the party has no link with him now," said Khan.
Mint
13 hours ago
- Politics
- Mint
West Bengal: BJP leader arrested for allegedly stealing gold from jewellery shop; TMC shares his pics with major leaders
Somnath Sahoo, a BJP leader from West Bengal, has been arrested for allegedly stealing 100 grams of gold from a jewellery shop. The incident has caused a stir in West Midnapore's political circle. Trinamool Congress (TMC) shared a clip of the alleged incident on social media. 'Locals caught him while he was trying to flee and handed him over to the police,' it wrote on Twitter (now X). 'The party that claims to be the guardian of law and order is busy sheltering criminals!' Mamata Banerjee's party added. TMC State General Secretary Kunal Ghosh claimed on social media that the BJP Yuva Morcha leader from Habibpur had been caught by Odisha Police while stealing jewellery worth ₹ 25 lakh. 'CCTV footage exposes him. Locals caught him while he was trying to flee and handed him over to the police,' Ghosh wrote while sharing the accused's photo with BJP State President, Sukanta Majumdar, also Minister of State for Education of India. He also shared Sahoo's photo with actor-turned-politician Hiran Chatterjee, a BJP MLA. 'What link does the BJP State President have with a thief? Has he got a share? Clarify please. Whether these are facts or not,' Ghosh added. Sujoy Hazra, West Midnapore district TMC president, has mocked the BJP. 'BJP leaders are involved in human trafficking, drugs, and gold smuggling. This man says he's not with the BJP, but in this district, the BJP hardly exists. If you check, you'll find many BJP workers with similar shady records,' he said. BJP has claimed that Somnath Sahoo was once associated with the party but holds no post now. It added that Odisha, a BJP-ruled state, had arrested him without bias. That should be a lesson for Bengal's ruling party about good governance, it added. According to Anandabazar Patrika sources, Somnath was caught while trying to flee after stealing from a jewellery store in Jaleswar, Odisha. TMC claims he still holds the post of district youth wing secretary in the BJP. BJP's district spokesperson Arup Das denied any current link with Somnath. However, he claims Somnath's name may still appear on the party list because a new committee has yet to be formed. 'He was once connected to the BJP, but there's been no contact for over a year and a half,' the publication quoted Das as saying. 'TMC has no right to speak about such issues. They shelter murderers and rapists.' Arup added. MLA Hiran Chattopadhyay has said he doesn't feel awkward. 'Odisha BJP government and its police acted without bias and arrested a criminal. I praise them. The photo seems to be from the 2021 election campaign. Hundreds took photos with me. I can't know who among them is a thief or not,' he said.
