In Sandeshkhali, scared TMC leaders holed up in their homes, guarded by cops

“I prefer not to go out in this situation. If locals see me, they may get infuriated, adding further to the ongoing tension and violence,” said Ari, who was recently made co-convener of the local TMC unit following the suspension of Sirajuddin Sheikh, the brother of local TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh.

Shahjahan Sheikh, who has been absconding since January 5 following the attack on ED officials, is the target of the villagers’ ire.

“A couple of days ago, I visited the local market. A group of people hurled the filthiest abuse at me and my husband. I ran back home. Thereafter, we decided not to go out,” said Ari’s wife Kabita.

Just nine months ago, the ruling TMC had swept the panchayat elections in this block in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal with most of its candidates winning unopposed or securing more than 95 per cent votes.

But since the protests erupted in the first week of February, local TMC functionaries have been staying indoors. Some have even locked their houses and moved to their relatives’ homes.

Outside the house of Sankar Sardar, a TMC panchayat member, nearly two km from Ari’s home, over a dozen policemen were seen on duty. After Monday night when a portion of Sardar’s house was vandalised and set on fire by a mob, a police picket came up there.

“My daughter has to travel to an educational institute where she is taking teachers’ training. My son (a Class X student) has to travel for tuition. How will we venture out? My husband is not here. We will leave this area by tomorrow,” said Shibani, wife of Sankar Sardar.

Nearby, the house of TMC leader Ajit Maity which was partially ransacked by villagers earlier this week, was locked. A group of policemen were seen patrolling the area. Maity, who is among the three TMC leaders arrested by police, is currently in judicial custody. The other two arrested TMC leaders are Uttam Sardar and Shibprasad Hazra.

Maity’s neighbour, Ranajit Barui is a supervisor at Bermajur panchayat. “The land grab issue is false. Land was leased out. You ask those who were involved. I was not involved. Leave me alone. Who told you to come to my home?” said Barui.

But a villager walking past his house alleged that Barui was hand in gloves with Shahjahan Sheikh’s brother Sirajuddin and grabbed farmland and converted them into fisheries. “He (Barui) is also involved in usurping NREGS money. I had to give him a part of the wages I earned,” the villager said.

At the house of TMC leader Shyam Sarkar, his daughter-in-law spoke from behind the locked main gate. “I am alone here with my baby. I always keep the main door locked. My father-in-law and my husband have been away since the trouble started,” she said.

At TMC leader Sanjay Mondal’s house in Sandeshkhali Island, 15 km from Bermajur, his wife was present. “He (Sanjay Mondal) is not here. I cannot tell you where he is. On the day the protest began (February 8), 500 people barged in looking for Shibu Hazra (Shibprasad Hazra). They searched our house but could not find him. Later, Hazra was caught and beaten up near the police station before policemen rescued him. We are living in fear,” said Sushma Mondol.

“After a police camp was set up opposite our house, we gained some confidence,” she added.

At the Kathkhali residence of Ganesh Halder, a TMC strongman and close aide of Shibprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, his brother refused to speak. “I am his brother. But I will not tell you my name. Who knows what you will write? He (Ganesh Halder) is not at home and the media is not welcome here. You guys are writing rubbish against us,” said Haldar’s brother.

With the ruling TMC on the backfoot over the episode, the Sandeshkhali unit of the party is planning to hit the streets but after some time when things “get settled”.

“We have our organisation here, but it would be unwise to hit the streets now. It will take some time before the situation becomes normal,” Ari, who was earlier president of the TMC’s Bermajur unit, told The Indian Express.

Since the protests erupted earlier this month, one of the TMC’s offices in Sandeshkhali has stayed locked, while another has been transformed into a grocery shop.

“The news channels are showing that I used to supply girls to Shahjahan Sheikh. This is utter rubbish and I challenge them to prove one such allegation,” Ari added.

The TMC leader, however, admitted that allegations of land grab against Shahjahan Sheikh, Sirajuddin Sheikh, Shibprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar were true.

“It is true they committed atrocities and grabbed land. I was in no position to protest. The party needs educated, good leaders and not hoodlums,” he added.

Maheshwar Sardar, vice-president of Sandeshkhali Panchayat Samiti, also echoed Ari. “The allegations are mostly true. Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar committed atrocities and grabbed land. But they have now been arrested by the police. I have been with Didi (TMC supremo Mamata Banerjee) since 1998 (when TMC was formed). Many joined later and rose to power. Power went into their heads. That is the reason we are facing this situation,” said Maheshwar Sardar.

“Here, you can see almost all are poor adivasi (tribal) people. It is unpleasant but true that after Siraj (Shahjahan Sheikh’s brother) became the leader, he and his associates grabbed lands from tribals which they received during the Left Front rule. This area was the heart of the Tebhaga movement (land movement in (1946-47). They also grabbed the martyr land of the Tebhaga movement. All these things that happened are very unfortunate,” said TMC’s booth committee member Paresh Das.