In a tense confrontation today, the West Bengal police, acting under the orders of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, clashed with Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers who sought to demonstrate outside the Superintendent of Police (SP) office in Basirhat. The BJP was protesting what they claim is the systematic sexual assault of Hindu women in Sandeshkhali, allegedly by Trinamool Congress (TMC) members.
Sandeshkhali, located within the jurisdiction of the Basirhat police district, has been at the centre of escalating tensions in recent days.
The BJP’s planned demonstration follows a series of demands for justice in Sandeshkhali, particularly after reports emerged of the alleged involvement of TMC members in the assault on Hindu women. However, the Mamata Banerjee administration preemptively enforced prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) around the SP office in Basirhat, citing concerns over the proposed BJP agitation.
As BJP workers, led by state president Sukanta Majumdar, marched towards the SP office today, they were met with force by the state police. Witnesses reported that police officers used batons, tear gas shells, and water cannons to disperse the crowd. The situation escalated further as some protestors allegedly retaliated by throwing stones. Both police officers and BJP supporters, including women and security personnel of Sukanta Majumdar, sustained injuries during the clash.
This confrontation comes in the wake of similar incidents, with the West Bengal police preventing Sukanta Majumdar and other BJP members from visiting Sandeshkhali on February 12. In Sandeshkhali, locals, predominantly women, have been demanding the arrest of Sheikh Shahjahan, a TMC leader and close aide of Mamata Banerjee, along with two other TMC workers accused of orchestrating the assault on Hindu women.
West Bengal is bleeding. Shahjahan Sheikh and his men are holding young married women of Sandeshkhali in confinement and raping them till they are satisfied…
But Mamata Banerjee, the tyrant of West Bengal, has unleashed police on BJP workers, led by state president Dr Sukanata… pic.twitter.com/3IQZJS0ke0
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) February 13, 2024
The repeal of the Section 144 order in Sandeshkhali by the Calcutta High Court has dealt a blow to the Banerjee government. Meanwhile, criticism of the Chief Minister has intensified, with Union Minister Smriti Irani accusing her of negligence and suggesting a pattern of violence against Hindus under her leadership.
Amid the turmoil, multiple accounts from Sandeshkhali residents, particularly women, have surfaced, detailing instances of exploitation and harassment allegedly perpetrated by TMC members. These accounts have further fueled tensions and raised questions about the safety and security of women in the region.
The clash in Basirhat underscores the deep-seated tensions and political divisions that continue to grip West Bengal, with implications extending far beyond the immediate confrontation.
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