Fact-finding Team Led by Former Chief Justice Stopped En Route to Sandeshkhali, Sparks Controversy

52 kilometers outside of the conflict area in Bhojerhat, a "independent" fact-finding team headed by former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court L. Narasimha Reddy was stopped by police on Sunday while on route to Sandeshkhali. They were cited under Section 144 of the CrPC.

Trinamul said that the "so-called independent committee" was supported by the BJP.

The six members of the team, which included veteran journalist Sanjeev Nayak, attorneys O.P. Vyas and Bhavna Bajaj, former National Commission for Women member Charu Wali Khanna, and retired IPS officer Raj Pal Singh, sat on the side and refused to walk back, setting up a high drama. After that, they were detained and brought to Lalbazar. After a while, they were let free.

"They stopped us around 70 kilometers from the scene of the incident and informed us that the 144 CrPC prevented us from leaving. It is against the law to do this. How are the leaders of the Trinamul Congress and their followers traveling to Sandeshkhali if Section 144 is in effect? Nevertheless, we asked them to provide permission for a minimum of two of our female members. At a news conference held later that day, Reddy said, "They refused."

According to a BJP official, the fact-finding team's visit was a part of the saffron camp's strategy to corner the Mamata Banerjee administration in the run-up to the Lok Sabha elections by continuing to pursue the Sandeshkhali issue.

The trouble-plagued block in North 24-Parganas has been given priority by BJP leaders and a number of federal panels, including the National Human Rights Commission and the National Commission for Women, since the unrest in Sandeshkhali began on February 7.

The police repeatedly stopped the BJP leaders from visiting Sandeshkhali, even though they permitted the commissioners to do so. On February 20, however, Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the opposition, paid a visit to the island as per an injunction from the Calcutta High Court.

According to a source, Adhikari has requested permission to attend Sandeshkhali in court once again.

"This group's members all have extensive professional backgrounds. How are members of civil society to be stopped by them (the police)? What do they want to conceal? questioned Raj Pal Singh, a former IPS officer.

"Mamata Banerjee believes that Bengal is her kingdom and that she is free to act whatever she pleases. People will respond, said Samik Bhattacharya, a BJP member of the Rajya Sabha.

Later on, the group met with Governor C.V. Ananda Bose.

#Sandeshkhali has Mamata Banerjee completely wrapped up. Amit Malviya, the head of the BJP's IT unit, wrote on X that "while Sheikh Shahjahan is still free to roam, the WB Police are being pressured to arrest anyone who is speaking for the women of Sandeshkhali." "The most recent incident was the unlawful detention of Justice (Retd) L Narsimha Reddy, the former Chief Justice of the Patna High Court, who was heading a distinguished citizen fact-finding team to Sandeshkhali. WB Police selectively applies section 144. It's interesting that it applies to everyone else, including the media, rather than only TMC leaders. Mamata Banerjee will face dire legal and political repercussions for her arrogance."

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