BJP Women Leaders Detained En Route Sandeshkhali, Sparking Fresh Protests

In a renewed bout of unrest in the troubled Sandeshkhali region of West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) women leaders, including MP Locket Chatterjee, faced detention on Friday as they sought to visit the village, invoking Section 144. The move led to a fresh wave of protests in the already volatile area.

The detained team, comprised of prominent BJP leaders like Locket Chatterjee, Agnimitra Paul, Madhuchandra Kar, Priyanka Tibrewal, Sonali Murmu, Falguni Patra, and Paromita Dutta, intended to visit Sandeshkhali.

Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Kunal Ghosh alleged that the BJP's repeated visits to Sandeshkhali were orchestrated to keep the issue alive until Prime Minister Narendra Modi's scheduled visit in March. Ghosh suggested it was a ploy to provoke locals and stage drama in the area.

"Picturesque MP Locket Chatterjee does not go to her constituency but goes to Sandeshkhali to get a photoshoot. So they will go every day, provoke the people, and stage some drama," Ghosh remarked.

Prime Minister Modi will visit West Bengal on March 1 and 2 as part of his official program, culminating in a women's rally on March 6 in North 24 Parganas, where Sandeshkhali is located.

The recent escalation in tension witnessed enraged locals setting fire to properties belonging to TMC leaders accused of sexual abuse and forcible land grabbing. The unrest originated from allegations against TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and his associates of land grabbing and sexual assault, with Sheikh evading authorities since the assault on Enforcement Directorate officials on January 5.

In response to the latest developments, West Bengal Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar visited the area, promising stringent action against the perpetrators. The incidents underscore the deeply rooted tensions and accusations surrounding the Sandeshkhali issue, contributing to the ongoing political strife in the region.

Author: Anushka Taraniya

News writer, MIT ADT University