CPM appeals to the Calcutta High Court, requesting the removal of Section 144 in Sandeshkhali to restore peace amid ongoing tensions and protests.
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The Communist Party of India (CPM) has initiated legal action, urging the Calcutta High Court to intervene in the escalating tensions in Sandeshkhali, a region that has become a focal point of political unrest and violence. The legal plea, presented by lawyer Shamim Ahmed to Justice Joy Sengupta, calls for the immediate withdrawal of Section 144 in Sandeshkhali and the restoration of internet services,
Sandeshkhali, located within the Basirhat police district, became a hotspot of agitation last Wednesday when a group of villagers, mainly women, took to the streets. Their demands were clear: the arrest of Trinamool Congress leaders Shahjahan Sheikh, Shibu Hazra, and Uttam Sardar, who have been accused of various offenses. Despite the arrest of Uttam Sardar, Sheikh and Hazra remain at large, fueling the villagers’ grievances. The protests were marked by the use of traditional weapons and the setting burning of properties, including a poultry farm and a garden house, allegedly established on forcibly occupied land.
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The villagers, with women leading the protests, took to the streets armed with traditional weapons and set burn the properties, including a poultry farm and a garden house, allegedly established by Shibura through the forceful occupation of villager’s land.
The enforcement of Section 144 across vast areas of Sandeshkhali, effectively banning gatherings and shutting down internet services. This move, aimed at quelling the disturbances, has instead wrapped the region in a “security blanket,” with barricaded roads and heightened police presence, yet failing to address the root causes of the unrest.
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The legal challenge by the CPM, sanctioned by Justice Sengupta, underscores the party’s commitment to restoring peace and order in Sandeshkhali. The case, set for a hearing, emerges against a backdrop of a recent attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in the area, an incident that has further complicated the socio-political landscape.
The attack, targeting ED officials during a search operation at Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan’s residence, has led to Shahjahan’s abscondence and intensified the scrutiny on the role of the police and the administration in managing the crisis.
The situation in Sandeshkhali has not only drawn the CPM into a legal battle but has also attracted the attention of Governor CV Anand Bose and representatives from the State Women’s Commission, indicating the gravity of the situation.
Moreover, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), led by Leader of the Opposition Subvendu Adhikari, has also sought legal recourse to visit Sandeshkhali, facing police obstruction in their attempt to reach the area. Adhikari’s statements–
“Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is scared. She is shaking with fear. That’s why she was stopped 60 km before going to Sandeshkhali. There is no Section 144 here. I don’t understand why she was stopped. We will sit here,”
also
“We were going to speak calmly, but we were stopped before that. The CPM was allowed to enter. The Governor was allowed to enter. But we were not allowed to enter,”
Reflect the charged political atmosphere and the complexities of navigating the unrest.
This event marked the beginning of a series of riots and arson attacks, casting a shadow over the role of the police and leading to the arrest of three individuals, including a suspended Trinamool leader and figures from the BJP and CPM.
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The visit of Governor CV Anand Bose to Sandeshkhali, along with the State Women’s Commission’s representatives, underscores the concern at the highest levels of governance regarding the situation. However, efforts by BJP MLAs, led by the Leader of the Opposition Subvendu Adhikari, to assess the situation firsthand were impede by police intervention.
Moreover, the arrest of former CPM MLA from Sandeshkhali, Sukhar Sardar, has sparked further protests and clashes, particularly in Basirhat, where CPM workers marched to the SP office, leading to confrontations with the police.
