Enforcement Directorate officers conducted raids at two residences of Bose in the Lake Town area in North 24 Parganas district early Friday morning. The were accompanied by central forces.

The central agency officers also raided Tapas Roy’s BB Ganguly Street residence and Chakraborty’s residence in Birati, he said.

“We are conducting search operations at the residences of three TMC leaders in connection with the recruitments in civic bodies. We are also talking to the leaders,” the officer told PTI.

The officials added the agency was raiding the premises of two block-level leaders Shahjahan Sheikh, and Shankar Adhya, and their relatives since Friday morning in North 24 Parganas under the security of central forces. State Food Minister Jyoti Priya Mallick has been arrested in connection with the alleged scam.

They said when the NIA team tried to break open the door of Sheikh’s house after repeated calls, hundreds of men and women, gathered at the spot shouting slogans. They also attacked the officials and damaged at least one vehicle, a resident told journalists. It was unclear whether Sheikh or his family members were present in the house.

“ED officials were attacked and a vehicle was damaged. Even the media was attacked. ED officials had to flee from the spot,” the report added quoting a resident.

ED officials said they were safe. “The search operation had to be abandoned. We are returning to Kolkata,” the official told journalists.