'Families Are Shattered, Lands Have Been Snatched Away': Fact-Finding Team Visits Bengal's Sandeshkhali

After meeting the victims, one member of the fact-finding team stated that the conditions in the Sandeshkhali are "horrifying," adding that "one person is commanding an entire island."

A six-member fact-finding team visited West Bengal's Sandeshkhali.

Source : X/@ANI

An NGO's fact-finding team visited several villages in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali on Sunday amidst ongoing protests over accusations of sexual violence and land encroachment by local TMC leaders. After meeting the victims, one member of the fact-finding team stated that the conditions in the Sandeshkhali are "horrifying," adding that "one person is commanding an entire island and threatening people," news agency ANI reported. 

Speaking about the burning of a poultry farm owned by Sheikh Shahjahan's close confidant and Trinamool Congress leader Shibu Hazra, the team stated: "In one case, 111 people, and in the second, 74 people were implicated in the case of poultry farms being burned down because either they or their wives raised their voices initially. To victimise them, all of them have been implicated in the FIR. However, fortunately, all of them have now been released." 

Highlighting the conditions of the victims, the team stated: "The families are shattered. Husbands are put behind bars and women are being taken to the police station after midnight. Lands have been snatched away... If a shopkeeper does not pay 20-25 thousand per month, then his shop is seized, and in one case, structures are constructed on the snatched land using that money and sold off... It is an eye-opener... We should really congratulate the women force here who have stood up and revolted."

#WATCH | West Bengal: On meeting the victims in Sandeshkhali, a member of the fact-finding team says, "In one case, 111 people, and in the second, 74 people were implicated in the case of poultry farms being burned down because either they or their wives raised their voice in the… pic.twitter.com/qhgElRXPeZ

— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2024

Last week, the High Court had granted permission to six individuals as members of the fact-finding team to visit Sandeshkhali on Sunday. Abiding by the directions, West Bengal police on Sunday stopped the fact-finding team at Dhamakhali and allowed only six persons to proceed, ANI reported.

#WATCH | West Bengal: Police stop the fact-finding team going to Sandeshkhali, at Dhamakhali and allow only six persons to proceed. pic.twitter.com/GTu49DJ4xq

— ANI (@ANI) March 3, 2024

The NGO had approached the court, alleging that police had barred their access to Sandeshkhali on February 25. They sought the court's intervention to enable them to visit the area and engage with the alleged victims of atrocities.