'No place for goons': Adhikari's message after Ratan Sheikh encounter

CM Suvendu Adhikari defends Ratan Sheikh encounterWest Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Sunday warned criminals and people possessing illegal firearms to leave the state. His warning came after Ratan Sheikh, the prime accused in the Santiniketan shooting case, was killed in a police encounter in Birbhum's Nanoor.Speaking to news agency ANI, Adhikari said Sheikh had opened fire at police personnel when they attempted to arrest him. He said the police took necessary action in response."He shot at the police, and the police did what needed to be done on the spot. It would not be appropriate for me to comment on this. There is no place for goons and rapists in West Bengal," Adhikari said.Issuing a warning to criminals and those possessing illegal firearms, he added, "Even now, whatever remaining goons and those with illegal arms are left, flee from here; leave immediately. There is no place for them here."Sheikh was accused of opening fire at a police team that went to arrest him in connection with the Santiniketan shooting incident. The firing took place on Friday evening in the Layek Bazar area of Bolpur.Three police personnel had reached the area to apprehend Sheikh. However, he allegedly opened fire after spotting them, injuring constable Biswajit Das in his left leg. Sheikh fled the spot and had been absconding since the incident.Sheikh was killed in a police encounter in Nanoor on Sunday. Adhikari described him as a dreaded criminal and said 36 cases had been registered against him. Sheikh had been granted bail in a robbery case and returned to the area last Friday.Following the shooting, Adhikari visited injured constable Biswajit Das at Bardhaman Medical College and Hospital. Doctors said his condition was stable.