West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on February 14 slammed the authorities in the Sandeshkhali village of North 24 Parganas district, saying that they have “failed to instil confidence among the harassed and affected villagers.”
Women in Sandeshkhali have been agitating for the last few days over alleged atrocities committed against them by TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his aides.
The Governor visited Sandeshkhali on February 12 and received complaints from the agitated women.
“From the interaction with the victims, it is evident that the competent authorities of the locality have failed to instil confidence among the harassed and affected villagers,” Governor CV Ananda Bose said in a statement issued by the Raj Bhavan on February 14.
The Governor said that he had received complaints from the villagers that women in Sandeshkhali were tortured and sexually harassed by Shahjahan Sheikh and his aides when the men were away. The villagers also complained that the police were working hand in glove with the rowdy elements, he said.
Grabbing land forcibly for prawn cultivation and letting sewage into the land of those who do not agree to part with their land for the gangsters or their henchmen are also the complaints of the Sandeshkhali villagers to the Governor.
“In my considered opinion, the situation there is highly reprehensible. The enigmatic and disturbing silence of the competent authorities, including the political executive and the police, as perceived by the villagers, portends to a diabolic situation where lawbreakers are seen by the public to be the law enforcement authorities themselves,” Governor CV Ananda Bose said.
The Governor said that the precarious situation where people are confused as to ‘who are the offenders and who are the protectors’ does not augur well for a democratic society.
The ghastly, shocking and shattering assault on the modesty, dignity and honour of women in large numbers by a small gang who display symptoms of anti-social personality disorder does not bring credit to anyone down the line in a democratic regime, the Governor said.
“On the balance of considerations, it is clear that the ‘rule of law’ has been given the go-by in the perception of villagers, particularly women, on the island of Sandeshkhali. The lumpen elements in society are holding the civic life to ransom and indulging in nefarious activities affecting the honour and dignity of women. The rampant feeling among the victims that lawbreakers are in league with the law enforcement agencies militates against all norms of a civilized society,” Governor CV Ananda Bose said.
The Governor said that the villagers and affected parties feel that it is imperative that the following actions are taken by the competent authorities expeditiously, without fear or favour.
Arrest the gang leader and his henchmen immediately; constitute a Special Task Force / SIT to investigate the alleged nexus of the criminal elements, determine the depth and extent of the committed crimes and bring all the culprits before the law; consider a judicial enquiry in the matter; provide ex-gratia assistance to the victims; the state Women’s Commission may take up the matter appropriately; and take strict action against erring enforcement officials, particularly police.
“This is not time for a blame game or fault finding exercise. Let all stakeholders come together and eradicate violence from society,” Governor CV Ananda Bose said.
(with inputs from ANI)
