Tension in Sandeshkhali: Suvendu Adhikari to Visit Amidst Protests and Arrests

Despite police maintaining a heavy presence in the region on Tuesday, the situation in Sandeshkhali, in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, remained tense due to demonstrations against TMC-led atrocities and sexual harassment.

Tuesday morning is Suvendu Adhikari's (Leader of the Opposition in the West Bengal Assembly) planned visit to Sandeshkhali. Adhikari had already been prevented from entering the region twice.


Adhikari was ordered by the Calcutta High Court, which on Monday gave him permission to go to Sandeshkhali, not to make any controversial remarks or disturb the peace in the unrest-plagued district.

"I want to visit and have a conversation with the folks. Adhikari said, "I want to support the people over there."

In the meanwhile, a Bengali news channel journalist was detained on Monday night while doing reporting from Sandeshkhali.

According to the police, the journalist was taken into custody when it was reported that she had broken into the home of a local lady.

The arrest has been denounced by the Kolkata Press Club.

Following unrest in Sandeshkhali, National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma called for the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and the imposition of President's Rule on Monday. The ruling TMC responded by accusing the panel of echoing the agenda of the BJP.

Many women in Sandeshkhali have accused Trinamool Congress leader Shajahan Sheikh and his associates of forcing them into a "land-grab and sexual assault."

Since a crowd purportedly connected to Shajahan assaulted Enforcement Directorate officers on January 5 who had gone to inspect his property in relation to a ration fraud, Shajahan has been evading capture.

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