Calcutta High Court on Thursday (4th April), condemns Sandeshkhali violence as ‘extremely shameful,’ holds Trinamool Congress-led government responsible for citizen safety amid allegations of extortion, land grab, and sexual assault.
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KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court, on Thursday (4th April), condemning the rising violence and chaos in Sandeshkhali. The court described the incidents as “extremely shameful,” holding the Trinamool Congress-led state government squarely accountable for jeopardizing citizen safety. The case, which involves allegations of extortion, land grab, and sexual assault.
During the hearing, the High Court remarked-
“What has happened in Sandeshkhali is extremely shameful. The entire district administration and the ruling dispensation owe moral responsibility for what has happened in Sandeshkhali. 100% responsibility lies with the ruling party if the safety of a citizen is under threat; the government is responsible.”
Advocate Priyanka Tibrewal, a petitioner in the Suo motu matter concerning alleged sexual violence and land grab cases, conveyed to the court numerous complaints she had received from the locals.
She stated-
“So many people came. They said nothing happened. I am putting the affidavit on record. I am not mentioning their names or they will be under threat. There was a lady who went to visit her father whose land was grabbed. She was taken in daylight and raped (by 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.”
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The former Trinamool Congress leader, Sheikh Shahjahan, arrested by the Bengal Police in connection with an attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team and accused of being at the center of the land grab and sexual assault allegations.
Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam of the Calcutta High Court expressed his dismay, emphasizing the situation by stating-
“Even if 1% of what advocate Tibrewal said is true, it would be shameful,”
further criticizing the state’s claim of being safe for women.
The proceedings evolved with discussions surrounding the partial approach of the Bengal Police and the requirement for a comprehensive inquiry, possibly to be conducted by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court’s assistant emphasized the complexity of the issues at hand, including the improper restitution of seized lands and the maltreatment of several women, thus highlighting the systemic deficiencies within the state administration.
The Chief Justice also took a moment to address the delayed arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan, remarking-
“(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,”
Priyanka Tibrewal, advocating for the intervention through either a court-appointed commission or the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), highlighted the barriers faced by the victims in seeking justice. She proposed the creation of a website to facilitate easier filing of complaints for the distressed residents of Sandeshkhali.
