Sandeshkhali, 14th Feb. Dramatic scenes unfolded in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, this afternoon as clashes erupted between BJP workers and law enforcement officers during their attempt to visit women who have accused Trinamool Congress leaders of sexual abuse. State BJP president Sukanta Majumdar was rushed to a hospital after fainting and sustaining injuries during a scuffle with police.
Majumdar had been stationed in the area following shocking allegations by local women against Trinamool strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and his associates. Shahjahan has been evading authorities for a month after an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team, investigating a ration scam, was attacked by a mob at his residence.
The state BJP chief and party workers staged a sit-in protest outside the police superintendent’s office in Basirhat, demanding access to Sandeshkhali. However, prohibitory orders were imposed by the local administration due to concerns of potential unrest.
Accusing authorities of obstructing his movements, Majumdar stated, “In Sandeshkhali, TMC workers have been raping women for months now. We had come to the SP peacefully with the demand to arrest them. If they do not arrest them, how will the women in Sandeshkhali gain confidence?”
Union Minister Smriti Irani had previously criticized the Mamata Banerjee government for allegedly shielding local strongmen, prompting heated exchanges between the ruling Trinamool and BJP. Trinamool representatives dismissed the allegations as baseless and accused the BJP of inciting violence.
Amidst the allegations and counter-accusations, Sandeshkhali remains tense. Senior police officer Sumit Kumar assured that the situation is under control, with Section 144 imposed in several areas. The state government has deployed additional forces to maintain peace in the region.
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