A team of BJP MPs, including two Union Ministers, as well another delegation led by State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was on Friday stopped by the police from visiting West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, an area rocked by protests over alleged atrocities on villagers by local Trinamool Congress leaders.
The BJP’s central delegation, was led by Union Minister Annapurna Devi. Other members of delegation were Union Minister Pratima Bhoumik, Sunita Duggal, Kavita Patidar, Sangeeta Yadav and Brij Lal. They were stopped by hundreds of policemen at Ramnagar, citing prohibitory orders imposed in various areas of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district.
The team members kept arguing with the police for several minutes asking why they were not allowed to visit Sandeshkhali. They then blocked the road and sat in protest for almost two hours. Later in the day, the BJP leaders met Governor C. V. Ananda Bose.
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“We will submit our report to our party,” Ms. Devi told journalists after meeting the Governor. The delegation also alleged that the police had become perpetrators and were acting hand in glove with those committing atrocities on women.
Sandeshkhali has been on the boil over the past few weeks after a few women alleged torture and sexual assault by local Trinamool Congress leaders led by Sheikh Shahjahan. The villagers had also attacked properties of local Trinamool leaders at Sandeshkhali.
The BJP central delegation addressing media at the Raj Bhavan, after the leaders were stopped on their way to Sandeshkhali. | Photo Credit: DEBASISH BHADURI
‘Lawlessness in State’
During the day, West Bengal Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury was also stopped from visiting Sandeshkhali. Mr. Chowdhury said he was visiting the area as a representative of a political party. “Why are Opposition parties being prevented from entering Sandeshkhali? What is the State government trying to hide? Why are they trying to politicise it?” the Congress MP said, adding that lawlessness prevails in the State.
Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and others returning after being stopped by the police from visiting Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district on Feb. 16, 2024. | Photo Credit: -
This is not the first time that representatives of political parties have been stopped from visiting Sandeshkhali. Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari was prevented from visiting the area twice, while BJP State president Sukanata Majumdar suffered injuries in a scuffle with the police on the way to the area.
Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee has said that the police are going door to door and recording statements of villagers. She added that 17 persons had been arrested so far in connection with the violence.
The West Bengal police maintain that “no complaints of rape of women have so far been received”.
