New Delhi: Three ministers from West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's cabinet on Sunday visited Sandeshkhali, which has been embroiled in protests, to "speak to people about their grievances", news agency PTI reported.
Bengal ministers Partha Bhowmick, Sujit Bose, and Birbaha Hansda went to Kalinagar village to interact with the residents and address their concerns. They were accompanied by Sandeshkhali's TMC MLA, Sukumar Mahata.
As per the report, the land department has also set up camps to facilitate villagers in registering complaints over alleged land encroachments.
"We are here to talk to the people and local party leadership," Bose said, highlighting their focus was on areas subjected to prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the CrPC.
Meanwhile, Opposition leaders, including central ministers, were barred by the state administration from visiting the strife-torn region.
Notably, prohibitory orders, restricting gatherings of five or more people, are in force at 19 locations in Sandeshkhali, PTI reported.
Since early February, Sandeshkhali has been a hotspot for protests, particularly concerning allegations of sexual violence against women and land grab. Minister Bose acknowledged receiving complaints from specific areas within Sandeshkhali, comprising 16 panchayat regions.
Speaking to the media, Bose said, "We have no intention to stifle dissent. The accused individuals have been arrested."
Notably, local TMC leaders Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar have been arrested in connection with the allegations of land grab and sexual harassment of women. While Sardar was arrested over a week back, Hazra was arrested on Saturday.
Meanwhile, Opposition leaders have been mounting pressure on the government and police to arrest TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh, who they allege to be the mastermind behind the reported atrocities against villagers.
Speaking to news agency ANI, state BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar said, “It is a very shameful incident. The women kept saying that they were called repeatedly to the TMC offices and sexually assaulted. The other arrests happened after we put pressure on the government but where is the main accused Sheikh Shahjahan?”
“Sandeshkhali has witnessed one of the most unfortunate incidents in recent pasts and in West Bengal, women do not feel safe. They are constantly being harassed. Lack of confidence in Mamata Banerjee's governance and women security is a big challenge in the state,” Union Minister Meenakshi Lekhi told ANI as she condemned the incident.
BJP leader Dilip Ghosh accused the government of “shielding” the culprits and claimed that the workers of the Opposition parties that were voicing dissent were being arrested.
“If such an incident happens in any state, it puts us to shame whether it is a BJP-ruled state or a non-BJP ruled state,” RJD MP Manoj Jha told ANI.