Sandeshkhali: The unrest at Sandeshkhali in West Bengal’s North 24-Parganas spilled onto the mainland, with locals staging fresh protests and ransacking the house of another Trinamool Congress strongman in the area.
Ajit Maity, a key aide of Sheikh Shahjahan – who along with his aides was accused by locals of systemic sexual harassment and forcible take over of land – was attacked by angry villagers in the Bermajur Kacharibari village of Sandeshkhali 2 Block. Locals accused Maity of grabbing their land to build fisheries.
In Jhupkhali, villagers created roadblocks by igniting piles of tires, branches, and twigs. Women wielded sticks and brooms in various places. Villagers obstructed roads by uprooting trees and lampposts.
The villagers claimed that men and students were taken into custody after an attack on Maity’s house.
Director General of Police (South Bengal) Supratim Sarkar and the state Director General of Police Rajeev Kumar rushed to the location to address the situation. Subsequently, prohibitory orders under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure were imposed in Bermajur Gram Panchayat I and II, along with other regions like Situlia Bazar, Hatgachhia, Trimoni Bazar, Khulna Ghat, and Haldarpara in Jelliakhali.
This incident comes in the wake of fresh tensions in Jhupkhali, another village in Sandeshkhali Block 2 about 10 kilometres from the centre of the protest. On February 22, villagers are learned to have set fire to the office of a fishery allegedly controlled by Sheikh Shahjahan’s brother, Sirajuddin. The escalation and extension of unrest across two blocks in Sandeshkhali have added to the mounting political difficulties for West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee with the elections impending.
“During the Left Front government, these lands were distributed to local farmers, who have been cultivating them. Last year, Ajit Maity, leading Shahjahan’s “Cobra Army” came and beat us all up. They forcibly evicted farmers from around 42 bighas (26 acres) of land without any compensation,” said Pintu Sardar, a resident of the area, who was present during the protests.
Pintu said that even traditional TMC supporters are not spared the local leaders’ wrath.
“Shibu [Hazra, one of those accused alongside Shahjahan] and Uttam [another accused], they are outsiders. They live in another village. They are being supported by some ministers and leaders in their effort to loot and torture villagers. Even the women have raised this,” stated Tapas Das, who has been associated with Trinamool Congress since its inception.
Bermajur and the state of things
Bermajur, a place with historical significance, was the backdrop of the Tebhaga movement in 1946, where a clash between landlords and sharecroppers resulted in the death of five farmers. Locals claim that Shahjahan’s forces demolished a memorial linked to the movement.
On Thursday, another playing field which had long since been under lock and key – named ‘Rishi Arabinda Maidan’ and forcefully held by the ‘Sheikh Shahjahan Fan Club’ – was reclaimed by villagers and thrown to the public.
A man paints over the sign ‘Sheikh Shahjahan Fan Club’. Photo: By arrangement.
In Dhamakhali, The Wire spoke to Jamshed Molla, a senior citizen. He displayed all the legal documents for his land. Jamshed said he was in the process of constructing a house, when Alim Molla, associated with Shahjahan’s gang, intervened.
“Alim declared that the land did not belong to me and stopped me from building the house. Shah Jahan’s army also took my brother’s land. When I went to report to the Sandeshkhali police station, police asked me to settle the matter amongst ourselves,” said Jamshed Mollah.
In Majherpara, women point to a massive fishery of 500 acres called ‘Akhashbheri’. Locals claim that in 2021, the multi-crop land was forcefully grabbed by Shibu Hazra – who was recently arrested – who pumped salt water just before harvesting.
“The BDO office is a mere five-minute walk from here. The police station is located just behind it. Many of us toiled to cultivate this land. Were we all silent when it was taken away? No. There were screams and cries. Some even approached the police, reporting that everything was being seized from them” asked a woman who requested anonymity.
Also read: Sandeshkhali Unrest: As Women-Led Protests Escalate, TMC’s ‘Outsider’ Claims Find Little Resonance
Politics over sexual harassment claims
TMC has been raising questions about the prolonged silence of the alleged abuse victims, emphasising on the lack of complaints from either the victims or the opposition party. While the police have – after a delay – filed at least two cases of gang rape against Sibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar, TMC spokespersons have demanded video evidence.
The Wire spoke to several Sandeshkhali women who alleged layers of abuse by local TMC leaders, include grave accounts of sexual harassment.
Protesters have found solidarity from a faction within the TMC which has been saying that they too have been victims of the abuse of power by Shahjahan, Shibu Hazra, and Uttam Sardar. Long-time TMC leader Sudeb Giri shared his experience.
“They beat me so much that I could not get out of bed for two months. We complained to Didi. Balu Da (arrested minister Jyotipriya Mallick) was aware of everything, yet supported Shahjahan. And the police are with them,” Giri claimed.
On the banks of Kalagachia river, a group of women, their faces veiled, approached this reporter. They also claimed that Mallick was responsible for Shahjahan’s complete control over the region, at the cost of the very safety of locals.
“If we speak up, they hurt us,” one woman said. “If we stay silent, we suffer.”
Translated from the Bengali original by Aparna Bhattacharya.