Sandeshkhali victims seek President's intervention for justice
Tribal & Dalit women from West Bengal appeal to President for justice in sexual assault by TMC leader & his associates. They demand CBI arrest & fear-free environment.
New Delhi: A group of women from Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district on Friday met President Droupadi Murmu and appealed for justice in the alleged sexual harassment and assault case involving TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh.
The women, who belong to the tribal and Dalit communities, alleged that Sheikh and his associates have been exploiting them socially, economically, and physically for several years. They said that if any woman opposes them, her family members are beaten up and her children are threatened with death.
The victims said that teams from the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes, National Commission for Scheduled Castes, and National Commission for Women had also visited Sandeshkhali and promised them justice, but due to the state government'patronage, Sheikh's henchmen are still roaming freely.
The victims said that even though Sheikh has been taken into custody by the CBI, his two brothers, Siraj Sheikh and Alamgir, are constantly threatening the victims, saying that once the media and judiciary cool down, who will support them. They said that if they do not change their statements, their family members will be killed.
The victims demanded that Sheikh's two brothers also be arrested by the CBI and a fear-free atmosphere be created in Sandeshkhali.
The women alleged that Sheikh has created such an atmosphere in and around Sandeshkhali that the police and administration also work at his behest. They said that grabbing the land of tribals and keeping them hostage is the work of Sheikh's men. If anyone raises their voice against him, TMC thugs beat them up and threaten to kill them with weapons.
Five women from Sandeshkhali showed the courage to come to Delhi and talk to the national media. They said that only if the CBI arrests TMC leaders and Sheikh's brothers in this case will there be any hope of justice for them.
The victims said that their young children and family members are constantly receiving death threats and that the state government, instead of helping them, is trying to save the criminals. The biggest proof of this is that they have not even invoked the necessary sections of the Prevention of Atrocities and Protection of Civil Rights Act to protect SC-STs from harassment.