17 People Arrested So Far In Sandeshkhali Incident: Mamata Banerjee

Kolkata:

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday informed the assembly that 17 people have been arrested so far in connection with Sandeshkhali violence and accusations of torture against residents and women.

Addressing the assembly, Mamata Banerjee asserted that no wrongdoer would escape justice.

“So far we have arrested 17 people in the Sandeshkhali case. We are looking into the situation; no one involved in any wrongdoing will be spared. I have sent the state women’s commission there and formed a police team for Sandeshkhali,” she said.

“I have never permitted and will never permit any form of injustice to prevail,” she added.

Barring three, the identities of the remaining fourteen are not yet known. Police are yet to reveal the identities.

Police have arrested former CPI (M) MLA of Sandeshkhali, Nirapada Sardar, and local BJP leader Bikash Singh, for their alleged involvement in violent protests there.

They have also arrested Uttam Sardar, a local TMC leader who was suspended by the party last week, based on complaints of torture and atrocities by some villagers.

Apart from them, some locals were also arrested in connection with alleged violent protests.

Protests continued unabated in Sandeshkhali for the seventh consecutive day, with a notable presence of women demonstrators demanding the arrest of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his associates. The allegations against Shajahan Sheikh and his cohorts include land grabbing and sexual harassment.

Shajahan Sheikh has been missing since January 5 when a mob attacked Enforcement Directorate (ED) officers during a raid at his residence in connection with an alleged ration scam. His aide Sibhu Hazra is also at large. 

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)