The Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, was allowed to visit Sandeshkhali on Tuesday at the intervention of the Calcutta High Court.
The BJP leader had been stopped by the police from visiting the area on two occasions earlier this month, after protests broke out there over allegations of sexual assault and land grab by local Trinamool Congress leaders.
While Justice Kaushik Chanda of the High Court allowed him to visit the strife-torn area on Monday, the State government approached the Division Bench of Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranymay Bhattacharya against the order on Tuesday.
After hearing the matter, the Division Bench agreed with the reasons given by the single judge for granting permission and refused to intervene. “Unless this order [of single judge] is stayed, he cannot be stopped. Don’t precipitate the problem... if you start resisting it, then local people may gather and that may result in further law and order problem,” Justice Sivagnanam told the State government’s counsel.
Mr. Adhikari was initially stopped by the police at Dhamakhali on Tuesday but later allowed him after the Calcutta High Court’s intervention. This was the first time that that a leader from the Opposition party was allowed to visit the island.
Women narrate plight
Hundreds of people, including women, came to greet Mr. Adhikari as he went around the island. Women blew conch shells, showered flower petals and tied rakhis to Mr. Adhikari. They also broke down as they narrated their plight to the BJP MLA. Amidst the rousing reception, Mr. Adhikari assured the people that the situation in Sandeshkhali will change and the accused will be arrested. He claimed that Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan, the prime accused, was hiding on the island.
During the day, the Division Bench also expressed its disappointment that the prime accused remains absconding. “It is rather surprising that the person who is said to be the core of the problem cannot be apprehended still and is on the run, defying law,” the Division Bench said.
Lawlessness, says Brinda
During the day, CPI(M) leader Brinda Karat was also allowed to visit Sandeshkhali, after being briefly stopped by the police. The CPI(M) leader claimed that lawlessness prevails on the island. “Breach of peace occurred when women were called to the local Trinamool Congress offices and subjected to sexual assault, now it is a fight for justice,” she said.
National Commission for Women chairperson Rekha Sharma, who visited Sandeshkhali on Saturday, met the State’s Director General of Police, Rajeev Kumar, during the day. She claimed that the police chief had admitted to certain lapses.
