Sandeshkhali Unrest: NHRC Team Finds Evidence Of Human Rights Violation; Fresh Protests Erupt In Village | Updates

Sandeshkhali Unrest: NHRC Team Finds Evidence Of Human Rights Violation; Fresh Protests Erupt In Village | Updates

Sandeshkhali Unrest: A team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) on Friday visited Sandeshkhali, the village in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal that came to the limelight recently after violence erupted there following allegations of land grabbing, sexual harassment and gangrape against some local leaders belonging to the state’s ruling TMC.

This came as fresh protests erupted in Sandeshkhali when women, with sticks and brooms, hit the streets again demanding the arrest of absconding TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his close associates accused of sexual harassment and violence. Meanwhile, BJP MP Locket Chatterjee was detained by Kolkata Police when she, along with other women leaders of the saffron party, was on her way to trouble-torn Sandeshkhali.

The team consisting of senior BJP leaders, including Locket Chatterjee, MLA Agnimitra Paul, General Secretary & MLA, Madhuchandra Kar, Vice-President, Adv. Priyanka Tibrewal, State Secretary, Sonali Murmu, State Secretary, Falguni Patra, President, Mahila Morcha, and Paromita Dutta, Incharge, Mahila Morcha, were going to visit Sandeshkhali today.

Sandeshkhali Unrest Latest Updates

– During the day, an NHRC team arrived in Sandeshkhali to ascertain facts through a “spot-enquiry” into the incidents of violence in the North 24 Parganas islands.

– The Commission has observed that the recent incidents in Sandeshkhali, as have been reported in various print and electronic media, indicate a prima facie violation of human rights, ANI said in its report.

– Fresh protests erupted in Sandeshkhali on Friday as women took to the streets to reiterate their demand that Sheikh Shahjahan and his close aides be arrested.

– Thatched structures, belonging to Sheikh Shahjahan’s brother Siraj, were reportedly set ablaze by the protesting women.

– The Election Commission (EC) is closely following the developments in trouble-hit Sandeshkhali in view of the upcoming Lok Sabha election, news agency IANS reported on Friday citing sources.

– “We were denied entry to Sandeshkhali by the police citing prohibitory orders. The state government is trying to hide the truth,” BJP MLA Agnimitra Paul was quoted as saying by news agency PTI after her party’s all-women delegation was stopped on the way to Sandeshkhali.

– Earlier in the day, the Directorate of Enforcement (ED) reportedly registered a fresh case against Sheikh Shahajahan over allegations of land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.

– The central probe agency also raided multiple locations linked to Shahjahan in West Bengal in connection with the alleged Public Distribution System (PDS) scam in the state.

(With inputs from agencies)