BJP's Suvendu Adhikari seeks West Bengal Governor's intervention to restore peace in Sandeshkhali

The Nandigram MLA, who led a BJP MLAs demonstration march from the state assembly to Raj Bhavan, submitted a memorandum to the Governor's officials as Bose is in Kerala for a vacation and is likely to return by Saturday evening.

Internet services have been snapped and an assembly of more than four people has been banned in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas after a protest against absconding Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides turned violent, media reports said.

On Friday, a huge group of women with sticks and brooms in their hands held protest rallies in various parts of Sandeshkhali demanding Shahjahan's arrest.

They even clashed with police, turning the situation intense. Shahjahan's aide Shiboprosad Hazra's house was vandalised, his furniture was set ablaze and his poultry farm in Zelia Khali was also set on fire, reports said.

The protesting women have alleged Shahjahan and his aides captured several lands forcefully and sexually harassed them.

Adhikari alleged that a BJP delegation was halted by the state police at Rampur near Sandeshkhali where many BJP activists were allegedly manhandled by the TMC goons while the police remained spectator.

The TMC goons have been torturing the villagers, who protested against the absconding Sahjahan Sheikh and his two close aides, and forcing the prohibitory order on them, he said.

"In our memorandum to the Governor, we have given 24 hours to restore peace and internet services or else we would hold a protest march to Sandeshkhali on Monday," Adhikari told reporters outside the Raj Bhavan.

He alleged that the people of scheduled caste and scheduled tribes were tortured at Sandeshkhali and warned that he would violate Section 144 if their safety was not ensured within 24 hours.

(With UNI inputs)