The state’s High Court reprimanded West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee’s government on Thursday as it heard affidavits regarding the violence and allegations of extortion, land grab, and sexual assault that have surfaced from Sandeshkhali ahead of the Lok Sabha election.
The Calcutta High Court termed the Sandeshkhali incident as “extremely shameful.” It said the moral responsibility of this lies with the ruling dispensation. Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam expressed profound concern, asserting that even if a mere 1% of the allegations were true, it would be deeply disgraceful.
The court also ripped into the lawyer representing Sheikh Shahjahan, who was arrested on February 29 after spending nearly two months evading the authorities. The delayed arrest triggered criticism of the Bengal government and prompted the High Court to issue a pointed order to the state.
The Chief Justice said, “(55) days you were on the run… playing hide-and-seek. Then you took an obscure stance. (Just because) you close your eyes the world doesn’t become dark,”. To which Shahjahan’s lawyer responded: ” I was told to be absconding while bail plea was pending.”
During the hearing, advocate Priyanka Tibrewal, representing herself as the petitioner in the suo motu matter regarding alleged sexual violence and land grab incidents, disclosed receiving numerous complaints from Sandeshkhali.
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She presented an affidavit, refraining from disclosing the identities of complainants due to potential threats they might face. Tibrewal highlighted an incident, saying, “There was a lady who went to visit her father whose land was grabbed. She was taken in daylight and raped by several people, including Sheikh Shahjahan and other workers. This is not just land grabbing but deep issues, including government land officials. The land records were changed, and (they were) asked to file a civil suit. How will these people file a civil suit? If they resist, they are tortured and raped. Even police are involved,” she told the court.
Unrest in Sandeshkhali has been brewing since early February, when villagers protested violently, demanding action against Shahjahan and other local Trinamool leaders. While authorities have apprehended Trinamool leaders Shiboprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar on sexual assault charges, Shahjahan wasn’t arrested until recently.
Furthermore, the court was informed by a lawyer assisting in the case that a comprehensive report had been submitted, addressing various issues, including land encroachment. Notably, some seized lands are reportedly being returned, though concerns have been raised regarding the manner in which this process is being executed.
This controversy has ignited a fierce political showdown between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress. The opposition has accused Ms Banerjee of shielding Sheikh Shahjahan. The Trinamool hit back by pointing to ex-wrestling body chief Brij Bhushan Singh, a sitting BJP MP accused of sexual assault by women wrestlers.
Following his arrest, Shahjahan was remanded to 10 days of police custody by a court in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, which subsequently led to his suspension from the Trinamool Party for a duration of six years. The case against Sheikh Shahjahan is currently with the Central Bureau of Investigation.
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