West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Thursday said that 17 people have been arrested in restive Sandeshkhali and no one involved in any wrongdoing will be spared.
Referring to the area which has been witnessing protests over alleged atrocities on locals by ruling TMC leaders, Banerjee said in the assembly that she has never allowed and will never allow any injustice to anyone. “We are looking into the Sandeshkhali situation; no one involved in any wrongdoing will be spared. I have sent the state women's commission there and formed a police team for Sandeshkhali,” she said. “A ‘sinister design is at play’ to foment trouble in the area and the state government has taken all necessary actions to control the situation, Banerjee said.
Protests persisted in Sandeshkhali for the seventh consecutive day on Wednesday, with a significant number of women taking to the streets, demanding the arrest of TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his followers.
The accusations against Shajahan Sheikh and his aides include forcefully capturing land and sexually harassing women.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari was prevented from going to Sandeshkhali on Thursday. Adhikari said a total of four legislators were going to the area so that they would not violate the prohibitory order.
Earlier, Adhikari and five other BJP legislators were stopped on Monday from visiting the Sandeshkhali area in North 24 Parganas which became restive politically. The BJP has been alleging sexual harassment by the local Trinamool Congress leadership in Sandeshkhali.
A huge police contingent has been deployed in and around the Sandeshkhali area to stop the BJP and other opposition activists from entering the area. Protests persisted in Sandeshkhali with a significant number of women taking to the streets, demanding the arrest of TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan.
