Sandeshkhali victims meet President Murmu; seek intervention in safeguarding their rights

Addressing a press conference at the Constitution Club here, Partha Biswas of the Centre for Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe Support and Research said that the victims have urged the President for the deployment of the Central Force as they fear for their lives.

He said, “Sheikh Shahjahan did not become what he is today in a single day. There was a political hand behind him. The Uttar 24 Pargana has the densest SC and ST population and they easily become the soft target of the political setup.”

Biswas said the land of the people of Sandeshkhali was grabbed by the goons of Sheikh Shahjahan forcibly and when the victims would complain to the administration, they would not be heard. This has been happening for the last 10 years.

He said the horrifying act that was committed against the women of Sandeshkhali shook the entire nation and after the incidents were reported, the women of the area rose up against Sheikh Shahjahan and openly spoke about his atrocities.

Telling her ordeal, one of the victims, who was a BA second-year student at the time, said that the goons of Sheikh Shahjahan would come to her house during the night and take her to his place on the pretext of making ‘Pitha’ (sweet dish). When she resisted, they would threaten to harm her family.

She further said that the goons even damaged her phone and asked her to discontinue her studies as it was of no use. They also threatened her not to report to the police.

Another victim said that though Sheikh Shahjahan has been arrested, his two brothers are still roaming free and openly threatening the victims.

Meanwhile, Biswas questioned those Dalit leaders who do not miss a single opportunity to reach places where atrocities against SCs and STs are committed.

“I ask where the so-called Dalit leaders are. Why did they not spare time to visit the victims of Sandeshkhali and raise their issues? Was it because they were not from any political party?” he said.

He also alleged that the people of Sandeshkhali have been denied all rights, including the right to vote.