Sandeshkhali violence: "No further arrests were made today", says Basirhat SP

Feb 27, 2024

North 24 Paraganas (West Bengal) [India], February 27 : Amid tensions over the Sandeshkhali incident, the Superintendent of Police, Basirhat, Hossain Mehedi Rehman, said on Tuesday that the situation in the Sandeshkhali village of West Bengal was peaceful, adding that no further arrests were made.
HM Rehman said, "It was peaceful here today. There was disturbance at only one place. A few women were sloganeering; they were spoken to. No further arrests were made today. In connection with yesterday's incident, 10 people were arrested and presented before the court."
Referring to the Calcutta High Court's observations on Sandeshkhali, SP Rehman said, "The incident happened on February 9. We all know that. It is a human error. An inquiry into all the officers who were under supervision is being conducted. Department will take all actions that have to be taken."
Meanwhile, Indian Secular Front (ISF) MLA Naushad Siddiqui was detained by police in Kolkata on Tuesday as he was preparing to visit Sandeshkhali.
He was seen indulging in a heated conversation with the police official, questioning his detention.
"Why am I being stopped from visiting Sandeshkhali? What is the reason behind my detention? Is there any written order?..." said MLA Naushad Siddiqui.
Earlier, in a blistering attack on the ruling TMC after it blamed legal processes for the delay in the arrest of absconding strongman and Sandeshkhali accused Sheikh Shahjahan, Congress state chief Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury on Monday said laying the blame on the Calcutta High Court in the matter amounted to 'contempt of court'.
"Women across West Bengal are out on the streets, crying for justice and fighting for the honour of fellow women in Sandeshkhali. Those in the TMC government should hang their heads in shame for failing to protect the women of Sandeshkhali. Laying the blaming on the High Court and the legal process (for the delay in the arrest of the accused Sheikh Shahjahan), instead, amounts to contempt of court. The government should be held in contempt for saying that the high court has tied the hands of the state police" Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.
On Monday, The Calcutta High Court Chief Justice ordered to add Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan to the Sandeshkhali case.
The HC Justice asked to issue a notice in the case and said, "There is no reason to not arrest him."
Sandeshkhali has been tense for a few weeks as a section of women are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides.
A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of "land-grab and sexual assault" under coercion. Shahjahan continues to evade arrest, with both state police and central agencies unable to trace him.