After days of continuous protests by women in Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24-Parganas district to protest sexual exploitation and torture by Trinamool Congress leaders, West Bengal Governor C.V. Ananda Bose on Monday visited the trouble-spots and met the women. After hearing their complaints, he said he was “shocked and shattered” by the events there.
On the other hand, BJP’s Leader of the Opposition Suvendu Adhikari and 60 MLAs of the party were stopped from visiting the unrest-hit area by a huge police force which blocked the only access roads with police vans. The police cited the imposition of prohibitory orders under section 144 in Sandeshkhali. The bus carrying the BJP legislators was stopped in Kolkata itself even though Sandeshkhali is 75 km away.
A large number of women in Sandeshkhali met the Governor and alleged that Trinamool Congress’ local strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters sexually assaulted them on a regular basis and that the exploitation had been going on for the past 12 years. The local women – most of whom belong to Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe communities – have been holding demonstrations since last week against panchayat zilla parishad members Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar who are key Trinamool leaders in the region. Sheikh has been absconding since last month after a team of the Enforcement Directorate that went to raid his house in connection with an alleged ration scam was beaten up by a mob of his supporters.
Police arrested Uttam Sardar on Saturday shortly after the Trinamool expelled him for six years. He was charged with inciting violence and remanded in judicial custody by a district court. Bikash Sinha, a local BJP leader, was also arrested on Saturday on charges of inciting violence. Hazra, however, remained untraceable although local people demanded his arrest.
A district court on Monday turned down a petition for anticipatory bail that Shahjahan filed after skipping three summons the ED issued since the January 5 attack, in which three ED officers were injured.
After hearing the women, the West Bengal Governor said: “What I saw was ghastly, shocking, shattering to my senses. I saw something which I should never have seen; I heard many things which I should never have heard. I cannot believe this could happen in Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore’s land.”
He said that he would “fight it out under the provisions of the Constitution, as per the laws of the land and whatever is within his powers.”
Before meeting the women, Bose also held a meeting with the senior police officers present there to take stock of the situation and directed them to take strict measures immediately.
The Governor has already sought a comprehensive report on the Sandeshkhali situation from the State Government.
Speaking to reporters, Governor Bose said that what he came across in the restive place was “ghastly and shocking” and assured to take action “whatever is within my powers”.
The Governor reached the village from Kolkata where he arrived from Kerala early this morning. He has sought a comprehensive report on the Sandeshkhali situation from the Mamata Banerjee Government.
“Do not be worried. You will surely get justice,” Bose told the local women, several of whom came to meet him covering their faces apparently to hide their identities.
The women blocked the Governor’s path and pleaded: “We want peace, security for ourselves. We cannot stand this torture anymore. We cannot live here any longer,” one of the women could be heard wailing”.
“The women narrated their plight. Goons go inside a house, grab the child and assault the women in front of their husband. These are the kinds of things that have been happening here. This cannot be allowed in society. Ghastly crimes went on, unchecked by the Government. Shame on the society,” the Governor told the media after interacting with some homemakers who fell at his feet and sought help. “I will certainly do my best to see that the honour and dignity of my sisters here are restored,” Bose said.
Police said that the situation in Sandeshkhali remained “peaceful” now and nobody would be allowed to disrupt the law and order there.
Meanwhile, Trinamool Congress sources said that a party delegation led by senior leader Partha Bhowmick would visit Sandeshkhali on Tuesday afternoon to take stock of the situation in the area.