Sandeshkhali: Mamata Banerjee Orders To Form Special Team To Investigate Sexual Assault Allegations

To investigate allegations of sexual assault in Sandeshkhali, the West Bengal government on Monday established a 10-member team. The team will be headed by a female officer with the rank of Deputy Inspector General (DIG), and investigate the allegations of sexual assault against members of the state-ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC).

According to the reports, the police team will visit Sandeshkhali and talk to the victim women. The reports added that these women have been protesting in Sandeshkhali for the last several days and demanding the arrest of Trinamool leader Shajahan Sheikh and his allies.

The victim also leveled charges of forcibly seizing land and sexually harassing them. The protests turned violent on February 9, with enraged villagers setting fire to properties owned by local TMC leaders.

Shajahan Sheikh, who has been sought by authorities since a mob assaulted Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers during a raid at his residence linked to an alleged ration scam, has remained on the run since last month.

Governor CV Ananda Bose, following his visit to Sandeshkhali on Monday, expressed deep concern over the situation, stating he was "visibly shaken."

Describing what he witnessed as "ghastly, shocking, shattering to my senses," he remarked, "I cannot believe this could happen in Kabiguru Rabindranath Tagore's land," as reported by news agency PTI.

In response to the protests, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee assured that those responsible have been apprehended and are now behind bars.