Sandeshkhali row: West Bengal Police arrests absconding TMC leader Shibu Hazra

Sandeshkhali, located in North 24 Parganas district has been on the boil over allegations of torture, sexual assault and coercion by some local TMC leaders-- Shibaprasad Hazra, Uttam Sardar and Sheikh Shahjahan.

Amid the agitation by the local people, police filed an FIR suo moto and arrested Uttam Sardar last Saturday from a hideout in Sandeshkhali. He was produced in Basirhat Sub Division Court and was sent on 10-day police remand.

Following a survivor's statement under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) before a magistrate, the police expanded the charges to include Sections 376D (gangrape) and 307 (attempt to murder).

After this development, the police arrested Shibu Hazra from the Nazat Police Station area under Sandeshkhali Gram Panchayat.

Notably, the mastermind of the alleged tortures and sexual assaults Sheikh Shahjahan continues to be at large.

Shibu Hazra will be produced before Basirhat SD Court tomorrow (Sunday), said Basirhat Police District SP Hossain Mehedi Rehman.

Media reports said that the residents have alleged that the local police remained a mere spectator even as they suffered persistent torture at the hands of the TMC leaders. The police even asked the victims to approach the accused with their complaints.

While the state administration imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 Cr PC and suspended internet services in the trouble-torn area, people continued their protests and alleged that the local TMC leaders were forcefully imposing the curbs on them.

Later, the Calcutta High Court set aside the prohibitory order but the clampdown continued and the police prevented the delegations of opposition parties like Congress, BJP and the Left parties from reaching the area.

According to media reports, Sandeshkhali is still tense and people have vowed to not rest till all the culprits are arrested and brought to justice.

Meanwhile, local TMC leaders have rejected the charges against their accused party colleagues, claiming that the allegations in the FIR are motivated and they have been framed in a premeditated manner.

According to the reports, the local people have expressed relief at the arrests but are still skeptical if the culprits will be handed out adequate punishment and their safety if the accused are let out.