“People may have genuine complaints…”: Mamata Banerjee blames RSS hand behind Sandeshkhali unrest; assures thorough investigation into all allegations

“I will never support injustice…” West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee broke her silence on Sandeshkhali but also accused political parties of trying to foment trouble in the village for the sake of divisive politics. Commenting on the violence that erupted and continued for seventy two hours in Sandeshkhali block 2 last week, the chief minister blamed Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh’s (RSS) hand behind it and claimed “there were other plans” during Saraswati Puja, hinting at a possible communal unrest. “RSS has a presence in Sandeshkhali and there had been a riot around 7 to 8 years ago. This is one of the sensitive zones. There was a lot of planning but we handled the situation well during the Saraswati puja”, she said while speaking on the floor of the assembly.

Amid very serious allegations of sexual harassment and torture at the hands of TMC leader Seikh Shahjahan and his associates Sibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar, the chief minister has outlined the measures adopted to help people come out and register complaints. “Those who have been speaking a lot for the past few days do not know the real situation on the ground in Sandeskhali. All of you know that I have never allowed any injustice”, said Banerjee while highlighting that she took the initiative and dispatched the state commission as well as administrative representatives immediately after allegations surfaced. But she also hinted at role of outsiders, allegedly patronised by BJP behind the unrest. “The police have arrested 17 people. Some people, who were with masks on their faces, were BJP workers and some of them have also been nabbed. BJP tried to bring outsiders and spread violence. First, they targeted Sheikh Shahjahan through ED and then they created a problem between the Adivasis and the minorities after going all out”, she added.

In the past one week, several women have outpoured their anger against Shahjahan, Hazra and Sardar, accusing them of resorting to intimidation, brutal physical torture and also illegal encroachment of agricultural land for prawn cultivation. Police claim they have so far not received any specific complaint of rape; their special committee headed by a female office has reached out to villagers urging them to come out and lodge complaints. “People may have genuine complaints and if that is the case, the administration and women's team have been going door to door to listen to people's complaints. Once they come back and give the report, we will surely work on that. First, we have to find out what happened and find verifiable facts”, Mamata Banerjee said while responding to allegations of opposition parties accusing her government of trying to suppress the truth and shield Shahjahan.

Meanwhile National Commission for Women ( NCW) team visited Sandeshkhali and in its fact-finding report, has claimed that they have received disturbing testimonies from women of widespread fear and systematic abuse of power. “Victims recounted instances of physical and sexual violence perpetrated by both police officers and members of the Trinamool Congress”, they claimed.

Sandeshkhali has been on the boil for over 3 days, last week over the demand of arrest of Shahjahan, Hazra and Sardar. In January this year, Enforcement Directorate officers had gone to raid Shahjahan’s house in connection with the alleged PDS scam but the officers had come under the attack of Shahjahan’s supporters, instead. The women who took to streets last week, carrying bamboo sticks and brooms, claimed that absence of Shahjahan had emboldened them to come out, speak and register their protest. The state administration has initiated a probe into the alleged incidents, appointed a 10-member team of senior IPS officers to investigate them further.