In a significant development, the National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson, Rekha Sharma, has recommended President’s Rule in West Bengal amid escalating tensions fueled by the Sandeshkhali violence. Sharma’s recommendation comes after a recent NCW fact-finding mission uncovered distressing accounts of violence and intimidation against women in the region.
During her meeting with President Droupadi Murmu, Sharma highlighted the gravity of the situation in Sandeshkhali, where women have alleged sexual harassment and land grabbing by local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders. The NCW’s fact-finding report underscored widespread fear and systematic abuse perpetrated by both police officers and members of the ruling TMC, including Shajahan Sheikh, a key figure involved in the attack on Enforcement Directorate officials on January 5.
Sharma emphasized that the Sandeshkhali incident is not an isolated occurrence but reflects a pattern of violence that has gone unchecked in the state. Consequently, she urged President Murmu to impose President’s Rule, citing the failure of the state government to address the ongoing crisis effectively.
The NCW’s recommendation follows a similar call from the National Commission for Scheduled Caste (NCSC), further amplifying concerns over the deteriorating law and order situation in West Bengal.
In a significant legal development, the Calcutta High Court intervened by ordering the transfer of the probe into the attack on ED officials in Sandeshkhali from the West Bengal Police to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The court’s decision, prompted by concerns of bias within the state police, underscores the need for impartial investigation into the incident.
Furthermore, the court directed the custody of Shajahan Sheikh, arrested by the West Bengal police on February 29 in connection with the attack, to be handed over to the CBI. The bench asserted that the case warrants thorough investigation by the central agency, citing the compelling need for impartiality and accountability.
As tensions continue to simmer in West Bengal, calls for decisive action to restore order and uphold justice grow louder. The recommendation for President’s Rule, coupled with judicial intervention for a CBI probe, marks a pivotal moment in the quest for accountability and justice in the aftermath of the Sandeshkhali violence.
Sources By Agencies
