Sandeshkhali Protest: Calcutta HC Sets Aside Section 144 Order, TMC Slams BJP For Clash With Police — Updates

Two residents of Sandeshkhali filed a petition seeking a direction from the court to lift the prohibitory orders in the area.

Security personnel guard during ED officers' raid at TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh's home at Sandeshkhali, on Jan. 24.

Source : PTI

New Delhi: The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday set aside the promulgation of prohibitory orders under Section 144 of CrPC at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, which has been witnessing protests over the last week over allegations of atrocities on women by goons associated to the ruling party.

Two residents of Sandeshkhali filed a petition seeking a direction from the court to lift the prohibitory orders in the area, reported PTI.

Justice Jay Sengupta set aside the promulgation of Section 144 of CrPC by the district administration at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas, holding that how it was done was not right.

Justice Sengupta ordered additional police deployment and deployment of paramilitary forces if necessary to bring the situation under control, according to ANI.

The violence erupted in the area after a large number of women in Sandeshkhali alleged that Trinamool Congress' local strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters sexually assaulted them.

Women staged protests in the area in the past few days alleging sexual harassment by the absconding TMC leader and his supporters.

He has been absconding since last month after a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) that went to raid his house in connection with an alleged ration scam was attacked by a mob of his supporters.

BJP Gherao's SP's Office In Basirhat

BJP workers clashed with police on Tuesday after tensions escalated as party leaders marched towards the Superintendent of Police office in protest against the situation in Sandeshkhali.

Women protestors in Sandeshkhali claimed that Sheikh and his "gang" captured swathes of land by force, besides sexually harassing women in the area.

In response to the escalating tensions, police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd.

#WATCH | Police resort to lathi-charge to disperse BJP workers protesting, over the violence in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas. pic.twitter.com/dZ3woybVPs

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024

VIDEO | Some men were seen pelting stones on security forces during the BJP's call to gherao SP office in Basirhat against the alleged systematic sexual assault on women in West Bengal's Basirhat. pic.twitter.com/B4gsqJpNjL

— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) February 13, 2024

On Sandeshkhali violence, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said, "Sandeshkhali is now totally peaceful and the situation is under control. If there are two, three, or four allegations police and the administration are taking steps, and the party is taking steps. But you see BJP and CPM, are trying to create new provocations. Today they have started vandalism. They have attacked police by stone throwing. They provoke like anything. But police behave like a restraint force and the situation is under control..."

#WATCH | On Sandeshkhali violence, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh says, "Sandeshkhali is now totally peaceful and the situation is under control. If there are two, three, or four allegations police and the administration are taking steps, and the party is taking steps. But you see BJP… pic.twitter.com/rkcAlX1EeY

— ANI (@ANI) February 13, 2024

Sandeshkhali grabbed headlines when some Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were attacked by a mob when they went to search the premises of Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh on January 5.