Sandeshkhali, a village in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district has grabbed the news for wrong reasons thanks to the allegations against the Trinamool Congress strongman Shahjahan Sheikh. A section of women are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by the TMC leader. Sheikh has been accused in over 40 cases and was on the run in "land-grab and sexual assault” case in Sandeshkhali village.
A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had been accusing Sheikh and his supporters of "land-grab and sexual assault" under coercion. Sheikh and his aides are among the key accused in cases of land grab and sexual harassment that surfaced following violent protests in Sandeshkhali village. The politician who had been on the run since January 5, has been previously embroiled in several criminal cases, including the murder of 3 BJP workers in 2019.
The Enforcement Directorate has also accused Sheikh of money laundering in the ration and land scams. There were also allegations of violence against power department employees in West Bengal, resulting in an FIR filed against him. The BJP accused the Mamata Banerjee government of shielding Sheikh after a mob of his supporters attacked an Enforcement Directorate team that went to Sandeshkhali to conduct raids against him in a corruption case.
The TMC strongman is not new to political rows as in June 2019, just after the last Lok Sabha polls, BJP and TMC workers clashed in Sandeshkhali, under which Sheikh’s village Sarberiya falls. A BJP worker and a TMC worker were killed in the clash, and Sheikh was among those named in a murder FIR. His name was later removed from the chargesheet which the police submitted in court.
The Tightening Noose
The National Listing Commission has recommended President Draupadi Murmu to impose President's rule in West Bengal. Congress and BJP are at loggerheads in the Sandeshkhali case, where children and girls are accused of sexual violence. The fact-finding committee of the National Commission for Women, sent to Sandeshkhali to find out about the steps taken by the West Bengal government in this matter, issued a report on the 15th. It said, “It has been confirmed that the Sandeshkhali women were physically and sexually harassed. It has come to light that the West Bengal government has been negligent in this matter.”
The affected women said, “Trinamool Congress Party will conduct door-to-door investigation. Then if any beautiful woman, especially young married women or girls, were seen, they would be taken to the party office and sexually harassed. They will keep those women there for several days.” Shahjahan is absconding on charges of attacking the enforcement officers who came to investigate at Sheikh Shahjahan's house. The women of Sandeshkhali say that when he was not in the city, they had the courage to speak on this issue.
This matter has created a tremendous stir in West Bengal. In such a situation, the National Listing Commission has submitted a report to President Draupadi Murmu regarding the Sandeshkhali case. In this, its President Arun Heldhar said that he has recommended that President's rule should be imposed in West Bengal under Article 338 of the Constitution, which protects the rights of the Scheduled Castes. He further said, “West Bengal has the second largest population of Scheduled Tribes in the country. “It is cruel for the government to treat people on the affected list like criminals and charge them again without protecting them,” Heldhar said.
On January 5, an ED team had gone to Sandeshkhali to raid the home of Sheikh in connection with the ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the state’s public distribution system. Shahjahan’s supporters attacked the ED team and injured three officials. They had also helped Shahjahan escape.
The simmering anger against Shahjahan was fanned by the failure of the police in apprehending him. After Hazra’s farm was set ablaze, police imposed prohibitory orders, and several women allegedly received threats from TMC goons. The police, who had arrested Sardar and Hazra, had initially denied allegations that the women were raped, but later filed cases against local TMC leaders.
On February 8, some local women carrying brooms and sticks had blocked the main road in Sandeshkhali and demanded the immediate arrest of Shahjahan and his two aides, Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, whom they accused of sexual abuse and harassment. The next day, women protesters attacked Hazra’s properties and set fire to his poultry farm which they said had been set up on illegally grabbed land.
The Trinamool leadership, including Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, had initially come out in support of Sheikh. However, as pressure kept mounting, the leadership distanced itself from him. Denying that the party was supporting the Sandeshkhali leader, Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee had said that the party had earlier shunted Ministers who were involved in scams.
BJP-Congress raises Sandeshkhali matter
At the time of elections, both BJP and Congress took up this issue and strongly criticized the ruling Trinamool Congress party. State Governor Anant Bose met the protesters and expressed his support. BJP MLAs who raised questions about this in the Assembly came into action. Later he went out of the hall. Six BJP members, including the Leader of Opposition, have been suspended from the current session of the House.
On 16th February, members of BJP and Congress parties met the women of Sandeshkhali village separately to express their support. But the state police stopped them citing the imposition of Section 144. Showing solidarity with the locals, they sat on the streets and protested. BJP leader Sukand Majumdar was injured in the clash with the police and was admitted to the hospital. Incidentally Lok Sabha Congress Committee state leader Adi Ranjan Chaudhary has been barred from entering Sandeshkhali.
Talking about this, Adi Ranjan Chaudhary said, “Mamata Banerjee is playing a dangerous game. The state police are taking strict action against us who go to support the people.' Also, BJP is doing two-pronged politics on this issue. The central government will not impose President's rule in West Bengal. First of all, the Home Ministry should declare it an affected area,” he said.
In this regard, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while speaking in the Assembly, said that I have never allowed injustice to happen in my life. I immediately sent the State Women's Commission there. Seventeen people have been arrested in this case. Shahjahan was the target of the enforcement department. Now they are creating such problems.' Sandeshkhali area is an RSS camp.
Riots have happened there before also. The ‘Women Police Team’ is going door-to-door and checking whether any complaint has been registered or not. If any of them complains, we will take action.' Banerjee said, police have said that no complaint of sexual harassment has been received so far in the investigation by the State Women's Commission.
A PIL has also been filed in the Supreme Court regarding sexual harassment of women in Sandeshkhali. As elections approach, this has become a big problem for Trinamool Congress. Mamata says that the culprits have been arrested. However, people and opposition parties are accusing the ruling government of not taking action.
Sheikh’s rise in ranks
Shahjahan Sheikh, 42, also called “Bhai", has had a steady rise in the TMC in the last 10 years, joining the party in 2013, two years after Mamata Banerjee came to power in Bengal. In 2018, he became the up-pradhan of the panchayat and his rise in the party began. He was the sabhapati of the Sandeshkhali unit of the TMC, and last year won a zilla parishad seat. He is also North 24 Parganas’s ‘Matsa Karmadhakshya’, that is, in-charge of the district’s fishery development.
That appointment was not surprising given Sheikh’s ownership of a string of fishery units in the area, falling in the Sunderbans, as well as brick kilns. According to local sources, Sheikh owns a number of brick kilns and controls over 200 bighas of fisheries. He also owns or controls local wholesale fish markets, and a processing centre for baby shrimps, which he delivers to fish farmers throughout Bengal.
Recognised for his passionate speeches and organisational abilities, Shahjahan gained notice from Trinamool Congress leaders in 2012. With the support of TMC figures like Mukul Roy and Jyotipriyo Mullick, he joined the party and swiftly rose in rank, developing a close association with Mullick. Sheikh’s clout is “both fear and respect”, as well as his proximity to senior TMC leaders, particularly Mullick. It’s this that has kept his so-called system of justice afloat.
From family feuds to disputes over land, people now turn to him more than the police or courts. He settles such matters at the party office or the panchayat office.
He is recognised as a mediator in local disputes and is involved in resolving family and land conflicts. Despite facing criminal charges, Shahjahan has been known to play an important role in curbing child trafficking and turning Sarberia Agarhati Gram Panchayat's recognition as a 'Child-Friendly Gram Panchayat' in 2019.
He started his career as a labourer and gradually transitioned into politics. Joining as a union leader in brick kilns in 2004, he later affiliated with the local CPI(M) unit, maintaining his involvement despite political shifts in West Bengal.
The Arrest
Shahjahan was arrested around midnight in the North 24 Parganas district by a special Bengal police team. He had been on the run for 55 days. He has now been sent to 10-day police custody. The team had been monitoring the leader's activities for several days leading up to the arrest.
Supratim Sarkar, Additional Directorate General (South Bengal) of the West Bengal Police said that the charges against Mr. Shahjahan include 307 (attempt to murder) 353 (criminal force against public servant) and 326 (grievous hurt), among other charges. He said there were “legal hurdles” in the arrest of the accused, and once the Calcutta High Court gave the go-ahead, the police started conducting extensive searches. The West Bengal Police’s Criminal Investigation Department took over the investigation into the attack on the basis of a complaint filed by the ED Deputy Director .
The arrest comes after weeks of pressure on the West Bengal government, with tensions remaining high in Sandeshkhali and various political and civil groups demanding action. It also comes three days after the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice ordered the addition of Sheikh Shahjahan to the Sandeshkhali case. On February 26, Calcutta HC Justice asked to issue a notice in the case and said, "There is no reason to not arrest him.” "Public notice shall be given in this case. There is no stay order in Sandeshkhali cases. There is no reason to not arrest him," the Court added.
The ruling Trinamool Congress hailed the arrest saying it was possible only after the court cleared the decks and accused the opposition of exploiting the earlier "embargo" on his arrest. Shahjahan had filed a petition in the High Court for bail, which was rejected by the court. The court told Shahjahan's lawyer that 42 cases were already registered against him. He was also absconding.
The Suspension
Hours after the arrest, the Trinamool suspended the party strongman from North 24 Parganas for six years. Sheikh is currently under investigation for allegations of sexual abuse and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal.
TMC announced that Sheikh has been suspended from the party for a duration of six years. This action comes after Sheikh's apprehension in the early hours of February 29 following a 55-day period of evading authorities. During this time, Sandeshkhali witnessed a series of protests, primarily led by women in the North 24 Parganas district.
By Alok Sharma
(The content of this article reflects the views of writers and contributors, not necessarily those of the publisher and editor. All disputes are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of competent courts and forums in Delhi/New Delhi only)
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