Calcutta High Court on Thursday slammed the West Bengal government as it continued hearing petitions filed over the Sandeshkhali violence. Calling the case “extremely shameful”, the court pulled up the ruling Trinamool Congress-led government, saying it is their “100% responsibility” if the “safety of a citizen is under threat”.
A bench led by Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam told TMC – which came under heavy fire after it was seen as shielding Sheikh Shahjahan, a local leader who is the primary accused in the Sandeshkhali issue – it could not shirk accountability in the event the allegations are found to be true.
The court was hearing affidavits regarding the violence and allegations of extortion, land grab, and sexual assault that have surfaced from Sandeshkhali ahead of the Lok Sabha election.
“Even if one affidavit is correct, it is shameful. Even if one per cent is true it is absolutely shameful. West Bengal says it is safest for women? Even if one affidavit is proven to be right all of this falls,” he said, “Entire district administration and ruling party have 100 per cent moral responsibility”.
The court also ripped into the lawyer representing Sheikh Shahjahan, who was arrested on February 29 after spending nearly two months evading the authorities. The delayed arrest triggered criticism of the Bengal government and prompted the High Court to issue a pointed order to the state.
“(55) days you were on the run… playing hide-and-seek. Then you took an obscure stance. (Just because) you close your eyes the world doesn’t become dark,” the Chief Justice said.
During the hearing, advocate Priyanka Tibrewal, petitioner in the suo motu matter in the alleged sexual violence and land grab cases, said she had received several complaints from Sandeshkhali.
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“So many people came. They said nothing happened. I am putting the affidavit on record. I am not mentioning their names or they will be under threat. There was a lady who went to visit her father whose land was grabbed. She was taken in daylight and raped (by people), including (Sheikh) Shahjahan and other workers. This is not just land grabbing but deep issues, including government land officials. The land records were changed and (they were) asked to file a civil suit. How will these people file a civil suit? If they resist, they are tortured and raped. Even police are involved,” she told the court, India Today reported.
Former Trinamool Congress leader was arrested by the Bengal Police on February 29 in connection with an attack on an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team in Sandeshkhali on January 5. He and his associates have been accused by several women of land grab and sexual assault under coercion, a controversy that has sparked a political row between the BJP and the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Shahjahan was on Monday (April 1) sent to the custody of the ED till April 13. A PMLA court rejected the bail petition of the expelled Trinamool Congress leader and sent him to ED remand in connection with a money laundering case over alleged siphoning of money in the grab of the pisciculture business in Sandeshkhali.
He is currently lodged in Basirhat jail.