As West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on Monday visited Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district following protests in the area against a local TMC leader facing land grabbing and corruption charges, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that those responsible for the violence have been arrested and necessary steps have been taken to maintain law-and-order in the area. The CM's remark came soon after Governor Bose, who cut short his Kerala trip to visit Sandeshkhali, described the situation as “ghastly, shocking, and shattering to my senses”. “Those who have instigated violence (in Sandeshkhali) have been arrested. The situation is being monitored closely and necessary steps are being taken," the CM told mediapersons on the sidelines of an event at Dumurjala Stadium in Howrah district. On Sunday, police arrested three political leaders – suspended TMC leader Uttam Sardar, BJP observer for Basirhat Lok Sabha constituency Vikas Singh, and CPI(M) leader and former MLA Nirapada Sardar – on charges of arson, instigating violence among others. Sandeshkhali has been tense since Wednesday after the violent protests where local villagers, especially women, accused three local TMC leaders – Shahjahan Sheikh, Uttam Sardar and Shiboprasad Hazra of land grabbing and making villagers work without pay. During protests that continued till Friday, villagers gheraoed the Sandeshkhali police station and allegedly set ablaze three poultry farms owned by Hazra. TMC functionary Shahjahan Sheikh has been absconding since January 5 following the attack on ED officials during the search at his house in connection with the alleged ration scam. During his visit to Sandeshkhali on Monday, the Governor met residents who alleged that they were being harassed by Sheikh and his aides. “What I saw was ghastly, shocking, shattering to my senses. I saw something which I should never have seen. I heard many things which I should never have heard. I cannot believe this could happen in Rabindranath Tagore’s land. I will fight it out under the provisions of the Constitution, as per the law of the land and whatever is within my powers," Bose told mediapersons. “Do not be worried. You will surely get justice,” Bose told a local woman. Later, the Governor met with senior police officers in Sandeshkhali to take stock of the situation and directed them to take strict measures immediately. He had earlier sought a “comprehensive” report on the Sandeshkhali situation from the state government. Taking a dig at the Governor's visit, CM Banerjee said, "Anyone (Governor) can go to Sandeshkhali and we have no issues with that. We have already sent the state women's commission team to Sandeshkhali. They returned and submitted a report.” A TMC delegation led by senior party leader Partha Bhowmick will visit Sandeshkhali on Tuesday afternoon to take stock of the situation in the area. "The delegation will be led by party leader and State Irrigation and Waterways Minister Partha Bhowmick. He would be accompanied by TMC MLA Narayan Goswami and other leaders. They will return and submit a report to the state leadership," said a senior TMC leader. Meanwhile, a BJP delegation, led by Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, was stopped by the police from visiting Sandeshkhali. Citing Section 144 of CrPC, which is in force in Sandeshkhali, police stopped the bus carrying BJP MLAs, near the Science City on EM Bypass. After remaining on the bus for a few hours, the BJP MLAs returned to Kolkata. “The authorities stopped us citing prohibitory orders there and a letter by the Basirhat police superintendent claiming that my visit to Sandeshkhali might lead to law-and-order issues in the area. This is absurd. How can I be stopped 65 km from Sandeshkhali citing law-and-order problems? We condemn this attempt by the state government to suppress the truth,” Adhikari said.
