New Delhi: Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shibu Hazra, one of the key accused in the alleged land grab and sexual harassment of women in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, was arrested on Saturday, police said. He was arrested from the Najat area of Basirhat. So far, a total of 18 people, including Hazra, have been arrested over the Sandeshkhali violence.
“Shibu Hazra has been arrested from the Najat area of Basirhat in West Bengal. A total of 18 people have been arrested, including Shibu Hazra. An investigation is underway based on the complaints we are receiving. We have not received any complaint against Shahjahan Sheikh. Police and force are deployed in every gram panchayat,” Basirhat SP, HM Rehman told news agency ANI.
Earlier in the day, West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar said that a 10-member team of the state police visited the violence-hit area to take stock of the situation. They spoke to the protesters there and urged them to register written police complaints if they have land grab or sexual harassment allegations. The DGP further said that police will probe into all the complaints lodged and take necessary action.
“A 10-member committee of West Bengal Police, led by two DIG rank female officers visited the region to take stock of the situation in Sandeshkhali. They listened to the issues faced by the people. Police are not trying to hide anything and we have said that necessary action will be taken. If anyone has such sexual harassment allegations, they need to register written complaints and we will investigate,” ANI quoted DGP Kumar as saying.
Weighing in on Shibu Hazra’s arrest, TMC leader Kunal Ghosh said the police and the administration are performing their duties and the way the Opposition is projecting the Sandeshkhali situation is “fake”. He said the police will investigate the matter and it is their probe which will lead to the truth.
Speaking to ANI, Ghosh said, “Shibu Hazra has been arrested in Sandeshkhali. Police, administration and the government are performing their duties. This arrest does not prove that the allegations are correct, but whatever the Opposition is saying is not true. Police are looking into the allegations. Whatever the Opposition is portraying and campaigning is fake. Police is trying to find the truth.”