The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance of allegations of sexual assault on women "at gunpoint" in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali and issued notices to the state government and the inspector general of police.
Justice Apurba Sinha Roy said that he was "very disturbed" at what was going on in Sandeshkhali.
He directed the registrar general of the high court to also issue notice to the DIG of Barasat range, the superintendent of police and the district magistrate of North 24 Parganas district.
Advocate Jayanta Narayan Chatterjee has been appointed as the amicus curiae to assist the court in the matter.
Meanwhile, in a separate order, the high court on Tuesday set aside the prohibitory orders imposed under Section 144 in the vicinity of the SP's office in Basirhat.
Clashes broke out between police personnel and BJP supporters earlier in the day after efforts were made to defy the prohibitory orders.
"This is a lawless situation in Bengal. The state government is trying to hide the truth," BJP state president Sukanta Majumdar said.
Sandeshkhali has been witnessing protests for the last one week over allegations of atrocities on women and land grabbing by goons owing allegiance to the ruling Trinamool Congress.
The region had grabbed headlines when some Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials were attacked by a mob when they went to search the premises of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh on January 5.
