Six members of an independent fact-finding committee, on their way to Sandeshkhali, were arrested at Bhojerhat in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district on February 25. Following the arrest, the committee members were brought to PHQ Lal Bazaar Kolkata. The Fact-Finding Committee members were stopped by police at Bhojerhat, South 24 Parganas, while they were proceeding to the trouble-torn Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas to investigate alleged incidents of atrocities and Sandeshkhali violence on women there. Saikat Ghosh, Deputy Commissioner, Bhangar Division, Kolkata Police, said while speaking to the media, “We were requesting them to not cross from here, but they were trying to break the police barricade unlawfully. So, we had to arrest them under Preventive Sections. If there is information of a ‘breach of peace’, police can arrest them under preventive sections.” Narasimha Reddy, Former Chief Justice of Patna High Court, said, “We sat here but it seems they've a problem with this also. Now, we will seek the appointment of the governor and explain the situation to him. Later we'll talk about this to the Ministry of Home Affairs in Delhi...”
25 February,2024 06:32 PM IST
Congress MLA S Vijayadharani, who represents Vilavancode in Tamil Nadu, officially joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on February 24. “Lot of great things are happening under honourable Prime Minister Narendra Modi for our country,” said Vijayadharani after joining the BJP. She also credited BJP Tamil Nadu K Annamalai for his efforts in the state.
24 February,2024 06:33 PM IST
Tensions remained high in the region on Feb 23 as protests flared up for a 10th consecutive day in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali. Locals of Sandeshkhali and BJP’s Mahila Morcha on Feb 23 protested against the TMC Govt in the Bermajur village of the region. The protestors are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides. A clash broke out between locals and the police after the police halted the protest. Some female villagers got injured during the Sandeshkhali Violence. Falguni Patra, West Bengal BJP Mahila Morcha President also protested against the Police in Bermajur village. "The people who are being looted, Police are committing atrocities against them. This is the truth of Bengal...nobody is safe...we are being stopped from going there because they don't want the truth to come out...women here are trying to speak to us but Police are scaring them away," said Falguni Patra.
24 February,2024 01:58 PM IST
Union Minister Subhas Sarkar on Feb 20 said that Bengal people want presidential rule in the state amid the Sandeshkhali violence. Subhas Sarkar said, “People in West Bengal wants Presidential rule to be implemented in the state. NCW chief Rekha Sharma also suggested the same. He (Suvendu Adhikari) should have gone that’s why he went. No one is being allowed to go there. There is no democracy in the state.”
21 February,2024 06:06 PM IST
Bharatiya Janata Party national spokesperson Ravi Shankar Prasad attacked CM Mamata Banerjee over Sandeshkhali violence in a recently held press conference. While attacking Mamata Banerjee, Ravi Shankar Prasad said “to save her political reputation, a woman CM is risking the honour of women, and she will have to pay for it.” He further said, “Sandeskhali issue is serious...What is emerging about the blatant assault, humiliating treatment and sexual assault of women is a shame on our society and democracy. Mamata Banerjee is still defending it. Why?...One journalist was also arrested. What does Mamata Banerjee want to hide, and why? To save her political reputation, a woman CM is risking the honour of women. Why? Where has her conscience died?...Why are the parties silent? I heard that a woman leader of the CPI(M) visited the area but the CPI(M) has not opposed it (the incident), it has not made a public comment. Rahul Gandhi is silent.”
21 February,2024 04:22 PM IST
National Commission for Women's (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma met CV Ananda Bose in Kolkata on Feb 19 amid the Sandeshkhali violence issue. She demanded the arrest of TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan. Addressing at a Press Conference held after the meeting with Governor, Rekha Sharma said, “Today I visited Sandeshkhali and several women came forward and complained about molestation...Those who sit far away and comment that it is a political agenda should once visit here... A home has been built by the Governor for the women of Sandeshkhali. Those who feel that they are not safe in their homes can come here and live... The demand of the women of Sandeshkhali is safety and we will ensure that. I want to request the state police to work without getting afraid and by staying away from the political agenda. In the state, the police are not able to work. They can't do anything without a political agenda despite their willingness to work. Only two people have been arrested, we want the main culprit Shahjahan should be arrested.”“She (Mamata Banerjee) should resign from her post and should go there (Sandeshkhali) as a woman, then she will be able to see the pain of the people,” she added.
20 February,2024 12:44 PM IST | Mumbai
On the Sandeshkhali horror, veteran actor and BJP leader Mithun Chakraborty expressed his anguish over the incident. Union Minister of State of Social Justice Pratima Bhoumik on February 18 attacked West Bengal Chief Minister saying that Mamata Banerjee has made thousands of ‘Sandeshkhali’ in West Bengal. Speaking to ANI, she said, “Sandeshkhali is just one but Mamata Banerjee has made thousands of 'Sandeshkhali' in West Bengal. Women of Sandeshkhali have courageously shown the exploitation they're facing. We also tried to go there but were allowed only till Rampur then stopped. West Bengal police are working as TMC cadres. The situation in Sandeshkahali isn't good. I want to assure them (women of Sandeshkhali) that we are with you and they don't need to fear. We’ll submit the report tomorrow.”
18 February,2024 01:15 PM IST
Amid the political storm in West Bengal that has erupted over the Sandeshkhali horror case, a major breakthrough has been achieved as the accused Shibu Hazra was arrested on Feb 17 from Basirhat. According to police, as many as 18 people have been arrested in the case so far. Notably, agitated villagers set fire to a poultry farm belonging to TMC leader Shivprasad Hazra. Residents claimed that Hazra took over their land against their will, leading to their agitation. Political storm broke out following the incident provoking to and fro allegations from state and national parties. The poor local women have narrated tales of horror of women being raped for years by leaders of Mamata Banerjee’s party Trinamool Congress and their henchmen in TMC’s party office.
18 February,2024 12:35 PM IST
In the state of West Bengal, the Sandeshkhali village is simmering with violence and agitation and behind it lies a tale of horror. Women in Sandeshkhali gram panchayat have been agitating over alleged atrocities by TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his aides. The poor local women have narrated tales of horror of women being raped for years by leaders of Mamata Banerjee’s party Trinamool Congress and their henchmen in TMC’s party office. Soon after the news broke out, the village and parts of West Bengal like Siliguri - saw a huge clash between the West Bengal police and BJP workers who started protesting against the accused TMC leader and questioned Mamata Banerjee’s leadership. Member of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes, Anju Bala recently visited the village and urged for President’s rule to take place in the state of West Bengal following the Sandeshkhali violence.
15 February,2024 03:45 PM IST
After violence broke out in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, BJP formed a six-member committee of Union Ministers, MPs. Committee members will visit Sandeshkhali and collect information about the alleged sexual harassment, violence against women. Tension simmered in the Sandeshkhali area of North 24 Parganas district's Basirhat subdivision on Feb 13. BJP workers led by state party president Sukanta Majumdar protested against the alleged sexual harassment of women. Local women have been agitating over atrocities committed against them allegedly by TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh. Majumdar sustained injuries during the police lathicharge as a scuffle broke out between the police and party workers. On Feb 14, WB Governor, LOP Suvendu Adhikari reached Apollo Hospital to enquire about Sukanta Majumdar's health. The administration has imposed Sector 144 of CrPC in the area till February 19 to maintain law and order amid the ongoing tensions due to Sandeshkhali horror.
15 February,2024 12:15 PM ISTADVERTISEMENT
