‘Called for meetings late night… kept list of women who didn’t attend’: Sexual harassment allegations against TMC men in Sandeshkhali

The women claimed they gathered courage to speak only now since TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan – who wielded significant power in the area and who has been absconding ever since the Enforcement Directorate raided his home last month — is no longer a threat. The women claimed Sheikh’s aides, including party leader Uttam Sardar, were among the accused. They alleged the TMC men called them to resorts, party offices or school buildings under the garb of late-night meetings.

The five are among a handful of women who submitted their statements to the state women’s commission and briefed the Governor when he visited on February 12. Asked why they did not approach the police earlier, the women said the cops are part of the state machinery and would urge complainants to “settle the matter”.

Since the allegations came to light, a molestation case has been filed against Uttam Sardar and others. Sardar, TMC’s North 24 Parganas zilla parishad member, was suspended by the party on February 12, hours after his arrest.

“We have formed a special team led by DIG CID (Soma Das Mitra) to speak to the women and investigate any complaints in connection with rape, sexual assault or molestation. The team will investigate if there are such complaints and take appropriate action,” said Sumit Kumar, DIG, Barasat Range.

Late Wednesday night, the West Bengal police posted on social media: “It is reiterated that no allegations about rape of women have so far been received during the enquiries since conducted by the State Women’s Commission, an all-women 10-member fact-finding team led by DIG CID, and also the district police. The representatives of the National Women’s Commission, following a recent visit to Sandeshkhali, have also corroborated this, saying that they did not receive any complaints of rape of local women during their enquiry. It is reiterated that all allegations and complaints received will be duly enquired into and lawful action will be initiated.”

Earlier in the day, the Governor said he had received complaints from villagers of “torture and sexual harassment of women when the menfolk are away” and of “police working hand in glove with the rowdy elements”. The Governor recommended that a special task force or special investigation team be set up to investigate and a judicial enquiry be considered.

Partha Bhowmik, state irrigation minister and TMC leader from North 24 Parganas, said the “complaints of sexual assault are fabricated and baseless”. “We have received complaints of land-grabbing by a section of our party leaders. Those who have done that, we have already taken action against them. And people who did not receive money for their land, the local party unit will compensate them,” he told The Indian Express.

One of the women The Indian Express spoke to narrated what allegedly transpired: “What do you call summoning us at 10 pm under the pretext of a meeting? Touching us whenever they like and wherever they like, pulling our saree? I went through that so many times and I am not alone.” The woman, who is in her 20s, said that she, like the others, are “TMC supporters” and members of self-help groups (SHG) that run under the panchayat. It was under the pretense of SHG meetings that the women were called at odd hours, they alleged, adding that this has “been going on since 2020”.

Since the protests broke out, a police picket has come up near the woman’s home. At the Sandeshkhali police station, officers refused to comment on the issue. A room marked ‘Women Help Desk’ had policemen of the riot control sitting inside.

At the residence of a local SHG leader, another woman, also in her 20s, alleged, “They used to call us for meetings – sometimes of the SHG and sometimes of the party. Our husbands were not called. When we went there, there was a quick ‘party meeting’ saying we will have to work for its victory. Some of us cooked and a section of women, including me, were told to stay back. They would pull my saree and touch me inappropriately. I kept quiet because I knew what would have happened if I protested.” She alleged her family’s bigha of land was also grabbed by TMC leaders and turned into a fishery.

Another woman there said, “You must understand how hard it is to speak up even now. But we did. Because Sheikh Shahjahan is absconding and TMC leaders are on the backfoot.”

Another woman alleged a list was kept of those who failed to turn up at the meetings. “Once, when I couldn’t attend because of my health, my husband was beaten up at the market… Sometimes they coerced me to sit on their motorbikes while they took us there. I couldn’t say no,” she said.

A fifth woman added, “We all voted for the TMC here… When the Governor came, I was there. All the women were. We told him what was happening here.”

Besieged by protests and clashes between TMC and BJP workers and the police, the district is currently under curfew, with police in anti-riot gear patrolling the streets.

The area first came into focus on January 5 when an ED team that turned up to search Shahjahan’s home was assaulted by his supporters.

The recent protests flared on February 8, when a local TMC rally ran into a protest by local women, who also set on fire Uttam Sardar’s poultry farm. The women continued their protests the next day.