AMIDST renewed protests in Sandeshkhali on Thursday, where locals set fire to property belonging to TMC leaders accused of tormenting villagers,West Bengal Police chief Rajeev Kumar pledged action against the perpetrators, while a visiting NCST team compiled complaints of forced land seizures and torture from the region. Earlier in the day, upon their arrival in the restive Sandeshkhali area, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) team led by acting vice-chairperson Ananta Nayak engaged with locals and documented over 23 complaints of forced land grabbing and torture.

 

Nayak affirmed that these grievances would be included in their report to the President. Meanwhile,West Bengal BJP president Sukanta Majumdar, who was permitted by police to visit the troubled area for the first time, staged a brief sit-in outside Sandeshkhali police station. His demand for the arrest of fugitive TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh led to his forcible removal by law enforcement officers from the unrest zone via a boat. The day witnessed fresh protests in parts of Sandeshkhali, fueled by allegations against localTMC leaders for sexual abuse and forcible land grabbing. Locals, armed with sticks, vented their anger by setting ablaze a thatched structure near a pond, purportedly belonging to Shahjahan’s brother Siraj, who is also a local TMC activist. A protester said, “Siraj and his brother Shahjahan have usurped our land. They subjected us to molestation. We demand justice and the return of our land.” These demonstrations followed DGP Kumar’s assurance earlier in the day that the guilty would not be spared, accompanied by police efforts to engage with the community and address their concerns.

 

To address public dissatisfaction regarding perceived police inaction against theTMC leader responsible for instilling fear in the area, Kumar, stationed in Sandeshkhali since Wednesday afternoon, pledged that police will attentively address complaints from every individual and strict action against those proven guilty. “I came here to talk to my officers. It’s our responsibility to see the well-being of the people. We will listen to the complaints of every individual. If there is any incident regarding land grabbing or anything else, we will take strict action against those found guilty. If people are found involved in torturing, we will take appropriate actionagainstthem,”Kumar toldreportersatDhamakhali this morning. In the aftermathofDGPRajeevKumar’s visit,asignificantpolicepresencedescendedonthe area. Officers urged locals to submit grievances and relevant documentation, promisingpromptactionandland restoration. However, these effortsfailedtoassuagepublic anger, with locals questioning the administration’s prolonged inaction.

 

TMC leaders faced the ire of the community during their visit, prompting acknowledgement of past lapses and assurances of redressal. In an attempt to mollify the gathering storm, the TMC representatives acknowledged past lapses while asserting the party’s commitment to rectifying them.Meanwhile,theNCST delegation, during their interactions with locals, received over 23 complaints oflandgrabbingandtorture, which they pledged to include in theirreport. “The locals have mentioned the nameofapoliticalleader.We will include it in our report. We have received more than 23 complaints so far. We will comparethis (theirfindings) with the ground report and then submit it to the President,” Nayak said.