Rekha Sharma, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), held discussions with President Droupadi Murmu on Tuesday, presenting a report regarding the Sandeshkhali violence and advocating for the imposition of President’s Rule in West Bengal.
Following a visit by an NCW team to the troubled Sandeshkhali village to investigate reports of sexual violence and intimidation against women by TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his associates, Sharma submitted a fact-finding report to the commission. The report allegedly revealed disturbing testimonies from women, citing widespread fear and systematic abuse by both police personnel and members of the ruling Trinamool Congress.
Earlier, the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), after conducting a thorough investigation into the incident, also recommended the imposition of President’s Rule in the TMC-governed state.
Numerous women from West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali area claimed that TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his associates forcibly seized large portions of land, in addition to allegedly subjecting them to sexual harassment.
In a recent development, the Calcutta High Court issued an order on Tuesday transferring the investigation into the attack on Enforcement Directorate officials in Sandeshkhali on January 5 from the West Bengal Police to the CBI.
Furthermore, the court directed that the custody of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, who was apprehended by the West Bengal police on February 29 in connection with the assault, be transferred to the central agency.
