As they marched towards the Basirhat Superintendent of Police’s office, the protesters broke through barricades, leading to clashes with police. The CPIM and other Left parties announced to stage protests in every district over Sandeshkhali on Tuesday. A clash broke out in front of the Berhampore District Magistrate’s office during the CPIM supporters’ protest. The protesting workers also broke through barricades, prompting the police to resort to lathi-charge and firing teargas shells at them.

Sandeshkhali, straddling two blocks of North 24 Parganas district, has been in the news since a team of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) was attacked on January 5 allegedly by the supporters of local Trinamool Congress leader and strongman Sheikh Shahjahan when they arrived to raid his residence in connection with an alleged ration scam. Three officials were injured in the attack.

Shahjahan has been absconding since. On February 8, women in Sandeshkhali took to the streets with brooms and sticks, demanding the immediate arrest of the TMC strongman and two of his associates Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.

The next day, the protesters attacked properties belonging to Hazra and set fire his poultry farms on fire. Local residents said the poultry farm was set up on a parcel of land the TMC leader had allegedly usurped. Local women also alleged that Shahjahan and his aides had assaulted and exploited them for years.

On February 10 (Saturday), Section 144 of CrPC was imposed in different pockets of Sandeshkhali, and an internet shutdown in 16 panchayats.

National SC panel to visit Sandeshkhali tomorrow

A delegation of the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) led by its chairman Arun Haldar will visit the restive Sandeshkhali block on Thursday. The members of the commission will meet the family members of the victims of alleged sexual harassment and hold a meeting with the district magistrate and superintendent of police. The commission members will later hold a press conference.