Former Jharkhand Director General of Police Nirmal Kaur made a resolute statement advocating for the marginalized women of Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, during a solidarity conference hosted by the professional women’s group Nari Shakti Sangam at the Constitution Club in Delhi on March 13, 2024. Kaur emphasized the dire situation faced by women in Sandeshkhali and nearby villages like Jhupkhali, where they have bravely spoken out against the systematic sexual exploitation perpetrated by Sheikh Shahjahan, a Trinamool Congress leader, his relatives, and party members.
The conference, titled “Sandeshkhali Files: Bengal’s Democracy in Coma,” featured impassioned speakers shedding light on the plight of marginalized women in West Bengal under the governance of a female Chief Minister. Advocate Monica Arora condemned the West Bengal government’s egregious violations of women’s and basic human rights, particularly targeting the most vulnerable women for rape and harassment. Arora underscored the need to prioritize the discussion on the crimes committed rather than politicizing the identity of the victims. She urged the women of Delhi to stand in solidarity with their unfortunate counterparts in West Bengal.
Former NHRC member and Supreme Court lawyer OP Vyas recounted his firsthand experience of visiting Bengal and meeting the women of Sandeshkhali. He exposed the reign of terror imposed by Sheikh Shahjahan, who not only subjected women to sexual abuse but also systematically deprived the most vulnerable residents of their land, amassing wealth and power in the process.
A documentary produced by senior journalist Ashwani on Sandeshkhali provided compelling evidence of the horrors endured by its inhabitants. DPCO Emery shed light on the complicity of state agencies in perpetuating the oppression of Sandeshkhali’s women and highlighted the pervasive fear and suppression of dissent in West Bengal. Women openly shared harrowing accounts of young women being abducted at night by Sheikh Shahjahan and TMC members, only to be raped in party offices.
The event concluded with a sobering message, leaving participants shocked by the revelations of the Sandeshkhali files.
Nari Shakti Sangam, led by advocate Pratima Lakra and other prominent businesswomen, stands as a stalwart advocate for the protection of women’s human rights.
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