Women duped into signing blank papers for false rape claims in Sandeshkhali

Women holding posters stage a protest over Sandeshkhali incident allegations. File pic/PTI

The Trinamool Congress on Thursday accused the BJP of spreading falsehood about the incidents of Sandeshkhali, after purported videos claimed that a local saffron party leader made several women sign blank papers which were later filled up as complaints of sexual assault against TMC leaders.

The videos surfaced days after another clipping became viral, which showed a local functionary of the party claiming that the leader of the opposition in the West Bengal Assembly Suvendu Adhikari was behind the episode. PTI, however, could not independently verify the authenticity of any of the videos.

"This again proves that the BJP is spreading falsehood. We have also complained to the Election Commission. This despicable act of fabrication and intimidation will not go unpunished," senior TMC leader and state minister Shashi Panja said. In one of the latest videos, a woman was heard saying, "We were deceived into signing on blank papers. We discovered later that rape complaints had been lodged in our names. This is a blatant lie."

The woman said the authorities should take action against the woman BJP leader who manipulated them to sign on blank papers. Another alleged Sandeshkhali resident echoed similar sentiments in a separate video, claiming that they have become victims of a scheme orchestrated by BJP leader Piyali Das.

TMC to go to EC over ‘sting operation' video

TMC will lodge a complaint with the EC against BJP's Suvendu Adhikari and others, claiming that a saffron party leader has confessed on camera that the rape accusations in the Sandeshkhali incident were concocted, sources said on Thursday. The TMC will submit a letter to EC later in the day, they said. Party sources said their complaint is based on a purported video in which a man claiming to be Gangadhar Kayal, BJP mandal president in Sandeshkhali, was heard saying that Adhikari, the leader of Opposition, was "behind the whole conspiracy". In the "sting operation" video done by a news platform which was later shared by the TMC on X, Kayal is heard saying sexual harassment complaints were filed at the behest of Adhikari.

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