Following the Calcutta High Court’s clarification stating that there was no stay on the arrest of Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose urged the state government to file a report within 72 hours if they fail to arrest the main accused in cases linked to sexual atrocities and land grab in Sandeshkhali.
Shahjahan Sheikh, accused of sexual assault and land grab by several women in the state, has been on the run for over 50 days since the ED raids at his premises. Over 70 complaints have been filed against Sheikh so far.
In his letter, the Governor also directed the state to investigate an alleged incident involving miscreants throwing a child in Sandeshkhali and submit a report to his office, an official told PTI.
“In the light of the decision of the Calcutta High Court, the prime accused in the Sandeshkhali incidents, Shajahan Sheikh, may be arrested immediately, failing which reasons for the same may be reported within 72 hours,” Bose wrote in his letter to the state government on Monday night.
Also Read:Sandeshkhali row: TMC leader Ajit Maity arrested over land grab charges day after losing party post
“The veracity of a reported incident of a child being thrown by miscreants may be looked into and if found to be correct, strict action may be taken and report submitted,” Bose’s letter read.
A division bench of Chief Justice TS Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya clarified on Monday that the court had merely stayed a single judge’s order to form a special investigation team (SIT) to probe allegations of an attack on ED officers during raids at Shahjahan’s residence last month.
Also Read:Enforcement Directorate files fresh case against TMC’s Sheikh Shahjahan amid Sandeshkhali unrest
The high court directed that Sheikh, the Enforcement Directorate, the CBI, the superintendent of police, and the state’s home secretary representing the West Bengal government be included as parties in the suo motu matter initiated on the allegations of sexual atrocities on women and the land grab of tribal people. “Therefore, the said person shall be arrested by the concerned police authorities,” the court ordered.
Additionally, it instructed the Registry to publish a public notice in newspapers about Sheikh’s inclusion as a respondent in the matter, noting his fugitive status, Live Law reported.
Also Read:Fresh protests rock Sandeshkhali, BJP’s Locket Chatterjee detained, TMC leader’s house attacked
Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district has been witnessing protests for the past few weeks over allegations of land grab and sexual atrocities on women by Sheikh and his supporters.
Several individuals, including Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, alleged associates of Sheikh, were arrested. However, Sheikh himself has been evading the authorities since January 5. The governor submitted a report to the Union Home Ministry a few days ago.
The TMC, in response, stated that it has a zero-tolerance policy against crime and clarified that it is not shielding Sheikh from accusations of sexual abuse and land grab in Sandeshkhali.
(With Agnecies Inputs)