In Sandeshkhali, located in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, fresh protests erupted as dozens of women took to the streets, demanding the arrest of Trinamool Congress (TMC) strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates over allegations of sexual assault and land grabbing. The protests escalated as local residents, armed with lathis and bamboo sticks, set ablaze a thatched structure purportedly linked to Shahjahan’s brother, Sirajuddin, also a TMC leader.
The demonstrators accused Shahjahan and his brother of seizing their land and subjecting them to molestation, expressing their demand for justice and the return of their land. These protests mark the latest development in the ongoing unrest in Sandeshkhali, which has been simmering since early February amidst allegations of sexual abuse of women and land grabbing by TMC leaders.
Shahjahan has been evading authorities since January 5, following an incident where a mob, allegedly composed of his supporters, attacked an Enforcement Directorate team conducting a search at his premises in connection with a money laundering case related to a multi-crore ration distribution scam. Despite his absence, law enforcement has arrested 18 individuals, including local TMC leaders Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, close associates of Shahjahan, in connection with various complaints of sexual assault, land grabbing, and incitement of violence in Sandeshkhali.
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Recent developments saw the director general of police (DGP), Rajeev Kumar, visiting Sandeshkhali and urging villagers not to resort to vigilantism but to cooperate with law enforcement. However, fresh protests ensued despite these appeals, coinciding with a visit by a team from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) to investigate complaints of forced land seizures and sexual abuse by local TMC members.
The protests also coincided with a demonstration by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) outside the Sandeshkhali police station, protesting against the ruling party. State BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar was arrested during the protest but was later released on bail. The timing of these events is notable, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to address a gathering in Barasat, approximately 80 km from Sandeshkhali, on March 6.
Reacting to the BJP’s protests, TMC spokesperson Kunal Ghosh criticized the BJP, urging them to address issues within their own ranks, particularly mentioning the leader of the opposition, Suvendu Adhikari, who is named in a CBI FIR in a chit fund case.
The ongoing turmoil in Sandeshkhali underscores the deep-seated tensions and allegations of misconduct that have engulfed the region, prompting both protests and political maneuvering amidst calls for justice and accountability.
