This was Rajiv Kumar’s first visit to the area since the protests began
Kolkata:
West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar on Thursday said the police will listen to the complaints of every person in Sandeshkhali and strict action will be taken against those found guilty.
Mr Kumar, who visited Sandeshkhali on Wednesday and stayed there overnight to assess the situation in the troubled areas of West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district, assured strict action against those found involved in atrocities on women.
“I have come here to talk to my officers. It is our responsibility to look after the welfare of the people. We will listen to the complaints of every person. 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 atrocities, we will take appropriate action against them,” Mr Kumar told reporters in Dhamakhali this morning.
In his first visit to the area since the protests began, Mr Kumar held meetings with ADG South Bengal Supratim Sarkar, Basirhat police district SP Hasan Mehedi Rehman and other police officials and visited areas in and around Situlia, Sardarpara, Manipur on Wednesday evening. Also visited the islands. To understand the situation there.
A special team of the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), formed to investigate allegations of sexual violence and land grabbing, will visit Sandeshkhali on Thursday.
The NHRC has issued notices to West Bengal Chief Secretary BP Gopalika, DGP and sought a report regarding the incidents of violence in Sandeshkhali and details of action taken against the perpetrators of crimes there within four weeks.
Police registered a second case of gang rape against the three main accused – Shajahan Shaikh, Uttam Sardar and Sibaprasad Hazra – after a woman recorded her statement before a magistrate under Section 164 of the Code of Criminal Procedure on Wednesday, an official said. .
A case has been registered against all three under IPC sections 376D (gang rape), 342 (wrongful confinement of any person) and 506 (criminal intimidation).
Sandeshkhali gained media attention after the mob attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials on January 5. The officials had gone there to search the premises of TMC leader Shajahan Shaikh in connection with the alleged ration distribution scam.
The protesting women in Sandeshkhali alleged that Shajahan and his “gang” including Hazra and Sardar, besides sexually assaulting them, took over the land by force.
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