Sandeshkhali Row: Bengal BJP Chief Hospitalised After Police ‘Lathicharge’, Section 144 Imposed | Top Points

Protests in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali reached the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday after a large number of women took to the streets, demanding the arrest of Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shajahan and his alleged “gang.”

The accusations against Shajahan and his aides include forcefully capturing land and sexually harassing women.

The TMC leader, wanted since a mob attacked Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers during a raid at his residence in an alleged ration scam, remains absconding since last month.

LATEST UPDATES

• BJP West Bengal President Sukanta Majumder has been admitted in the neurology ICU of Apollo Hospital, Kolkata. His condition is stable but under watch.
• BJP National Spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia, while addressing a press conference on Wednesday said, “When the perpetrator of any crime happens to be a TMC goon, the Chief Minister of West Bengal doesn’t even care to intervene, doesn’t care to uphold dignity of women. Notably, Hindu women are especially the targets of TMC goons, with Shahjahan Sheikh as the top shameless perpetrator.”
• “Certainly, there is nothing but a sheer state of lawlessness that prevails in the state of West Bengal. Not the ‘Rule of Law’, but the ‘law’ of the anarchic ruler Mamata Banerjee does exist there,” Bhatia added.
• Bengal BJP leader Subhendhu Adhikary will be visiting Sandeshkhali on Thursday along with 30 MLAs.
• In a conversation with CNN News18, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose said that what he witnessed was shocking and shattering as he saw ‘gundaraj’ in the locality. He further said that he is in touch with the victims and the scare is still there among them. Bose also said, “I met hundreds of women…they are on the road. I interacted with them. I can understand their feeling.” Calling it a crime against womanhood and humanity, the Bengal governor added, “Over 100 women gave me written complaints.”
• On Thursday, amidst the ongoing tensions at Sandeshkhali, state BJP president Sukanta Majumdar has been admitted to a multi-facility hospital in Basirhat after he was injured during a police lathi charge as a scuffle had broken out between the police and party workers.

• Earlier today, Majumdar alleged that the state police have cordoned off the lodge where he has put up in Taki area to prevent him from heading towards unrest-hit Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district. Majumdar said he was scheduled to visit Sandeshkhali this afternoon to meet the agitators. The BJP leader, claimed he has been put under “house arrest”, a claim denied by the police.
• As per sources in the administration, a new order to impose Section 144 has been released. After the DIG Intelligence got inputs that certain outside elements might create disturbance in the area, the decision on Section 144 of the Criminal Procedure Code (CrPC) was taken. Officials said that the prohibitory orders will be imposed from 6 am and 6 pm to maintain law and order.
• The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) will stage a protest against the torture on State President, Dr. Sukanta Majumdar at Hind Cinema, Ganesh Chandra Avenue at around 4:45 pm.
• The BJP on Wednesday charged that ‘jungle raj’ prevailed in West Bengal and demanded resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Addressing a press conference in Delhi, BJP national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia claimed that there is “complete anarchy and lawlessness” in West Bengal under the TMC rule with Chief Minister Banerjee allegedly providing protection to her party goons who allegedly raped and exploited tribal women in Sandeshkhali.

(with agency inputs)