4 min readKolkataFeb 24, 2024 02:22 PM IST
First published on: Feb 24, 2024 at 05:22 AM IST
As protests in Sandeshkhali spread to Belmajur on Friday where protestors allegedly beat up local TMC leader Ajit Maity, West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar said that he accepts that there has been “a mistake” but the police would ensure that the rule of law is restored in the area.
The flare-up took place in Sandeshkhali 2 block area, around 15 km away from where the main agitation started two weeks ago.
The protesters also blocked roads with burning tyres to prevent police from entering the villages. The administration imposed prohibitory orders under section 144 of the Code of Criminal procedure in Belmajur gram panchayat I and II.
Sandeshkhali has been on the edge since February first week following violent protests by local residents demanding the arrest of Zilla Parishad member and TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh and his two aides Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar. Both Sardar and Hazra were arrested last week. Sheikh has been on the run since the January 5 attack on Enforcement Directorate officials in Sandeshkhali.
West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar and ADG South Bengal Supratim Sarkar rushed to Belmajur following the protests.
Talking to villagers, Kumar said, “Galat Ache. Manchi to Amra. (There has been a mistake. We are accepting that.) We will establish the rule of law… If you have a complaint, tell us. Don’t take law into your own hands. We will take action.” Sarkar also spoke to Maity and said, “We will take action against all allegations. Those who ransacked the house will be arrested and if their allegations are true, more arrests will follow.”
According to reports, villagers allegedly stormed into Maity’s house, ransacked it and also beat him up. They accused Maity, who’s considered close to Sheikh, of being involved in land grabbing and extortion.
By afternoon, at Jhupkhali villagers had piled tyres, branches and twigs in the middle of the road and started a fire. In other parts of Sandeshkhali, roads were blocked by uprooting trees and lamp posts.
The villagers claimed that men and students were picked up after the attack on Maity’s house. The protestors also alleged that a woman was injured by a police car. “The women were protesting in front of a police car and suddenly the vehicle started moving and injured one of them,” alleged one of the protestors.
Earlier on Thursday, local villagers had allegedly ransacked and set fire to the guard room of a fishery and staged a protest in Jhupkhali. The villagers had alleged that the fishery was set up by local TMC leaders on encroached land.
Meanwhile, police stopped a seven-member BJP delegation, including MP Locket Chatterjee and South Asansol MLA Agnimitra Paul, and a group of women lawyers from visiting Sandeshkhali on Friday. The delegation had gathered in Kolkata’s EM bypass area but the police stopped them from proceeding.
Chatterjee told the police that Section 144 was not imposed in Bhojerhat in South 24 Parganas, where they were headed. She was, however, detained and taken to Lalbazar.
The BJP sharpened its attack against the ruling TMC.
BJP leader Amit Malviya wrote on X: “Fresh round of protests have started in Sandeshkhali. Instead of arresting Shahjahan Sheikh, WB Police randomly picked up the protestors… They barged into their homes and picked up the men. How dare they protest against Mamata Banerjee and men in her criminal syndicate? While the women protested this high handedness, a police car hit and ran over a woman protestor.”
West Bengal finance minister Chandrima Bhattacharya said, “The BJP is trying to create unrest in Sandeshkhali. The West Bengal DGP went to Sandeshkhali and talked to the people. Our leaders also went there. Has the DGP of Manipur ever gone to the unrest-hit areas? Here, the administration is facing all allegations and is trying to solve their problems.”
700 and counting: In Sandeshkhali, complaints pour in about TMC excesses
At a protest over the Sandeshkhali unrest in Kolkata, Friday. (File Photo) 
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