Bengal: Curfew In Sandeshkhali As Protests Seeking TMC Leader's Arrest Turn Violent; NCW Sends Notice To DGP

Internet services have been suspended and restrictive orders have been imposed in the Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas district in West Bengal following violent protests by locals demanding the arrest of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shajahan and his associates.

The National Commission for Women (NCW) on Saturday took cognisance of reports of sexual harassment of ‘Hindu women’ by Shajahan and his associates and sought immediate action into the matter.

Earlier, a BJP team was stopped from entering Sandeshkhali, as a gathering of four or more people has been prohibited in the area.

Protest In Sandeshkhali

Protests led by local women have rocked Sandeshkhali for the past three days. They have been demanding the arrest of Shajahan, who went missing last month after a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that went to raid his house in the alleged ration scam was attacked by a mob.

The protesting women alleged that Shajahan and his “gang” captured swathes of land by force, besides sexually harassing them.

With sticks and brooms in their hands, local women took out processions in different areas of Sandeshkhali as the protest intensified on the second day.

On Friday afternoon, Shajahan’s aide Shiboprasad Hazra’s house was vandalised and some furniture was torched. A poultry farm in Zeliakhali belonging to Hazra was also set ablaze. The protesters alleged that the farms were built on the land usurped from them and that they were forced to work there.

Eight people were detained in connection with the vandalism, DIG (Barasat range) Sumit Kumar said.

Addressing a press conference, Additional Director-General (Law and Order) Manoj Verma urged people not to take the law into their own hands.

“Investigation is underway into all complaints that have been lodged and action will be taken. At the same time, if someone takes up the law into their hands, the law will take its course. The situation is at present under control,” he said.

The protesting women also staged a sit-in outside the Sandeshkhali police station for a few hours. They withdrew the demonstration around 7 pm, stating that it would resume on Saturday.

Meanwhile, Shajahan’s supporters also took to the streets, further adding to the tension.

NCW Demands Action

The women and child rights body demanded swift action into allegations made by protesting women and demanded a detailed investigation report by DGP within two days.

“NCW is deeply disturbed by reports alleging the wrongful confinement and rape of Hindu women in Basirhat, West Bengal by Sheikh Shahjahan at the TMC party office. We condemn these incidents and urge swift action. A letter has been sent to the state DGP for immediate intervention and provision of medical care to victims. We demand a detailed investigation report within 48 hours. NCW enquiry committee headed by Member Delina will be going to the place of crime in the matter,” the commission said in a post in X.

Blame Game On

The TMC claimed that the BJP and CPI (M) were inciting the people to foment unrest in the area.

“There could have been discontentment against one or two TMC leaders in the area. The conspirators took advantage of that to foment trouble. It is an isolated incident, and people’s grievances will be addressed,” TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh said.

BJP said the incident was an outcome of pent-up rage among the people.

“The incident in Sandeshkhali is a trailer of things to come. The TMC regime will not last for many days,” BJP state spokesperson Samik Bhattacharya claimed.

CPI(M) leader Tanmoy Bhattacharya said the “illegal occupation” of hundreds of acres of land and police inaction led to the public outburst.

“This was not political, it was a spontaneous mob fury,” he claimed.

Meanwhile, BJP’s IT cell chief Amit Malviya alleged that Shahjahan and his men would abduct young, good-looking, married ‘Hindu’ women from their homes, and violate them.

In a post on X, the BJP leader claimed that “Hindu women in Bengal, under Mamata Banerjee’s regime, are fair game for Muslim men like Sheikh Shahjahan, because she has pawned her sensibilities as a woman, in lieu of Muslim votes. She is as much a criminal as Shahjahan is.”

“Mamata Banerjee should hang her head in shame. She is a blot, not just as a woman Chief Minister, but also as a human being,” he added.