In February first week, protests against him reached a crescendo as local residents hit the streets, vandalising homes and even gheraoing a police station. In the days that followed, Sandeshkhali became the centre of a political storm as Opposition leaders and fact-finding teams rushed to the region and criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led government over the law and order situation.
Back in Sandeshkhali, which falls under the Sunderbans, the wave of celebrations seems to have swept men and women, young and old. In areas like Sandeshkhali island, Bermajur, Jeliakhali and Jhupkhali, women were seen playing with colours, distributing sweets and blowing conch shells in celebration.
However, for many women it’s too soon to trust the police, who sat on their complaints against the strongman’s alleged wrongdoings for years.
“Did you see the TV? Look, how he was walking with policemen following him. We don’t trust the policemen. We are preparing for a long battle. For some of us it will be a legal battle too. However, we are happy that he was finally arrested. Maybe, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) should take up the case,” said a 28-year-old woman in Sandeshkhali island.
A section of women in Sandeshkhali also believe that local residents have to stay united so that “criminals don’t dominate them again”.
“We do not believe the West Bengal police. We saw how they sat idle when we complained day after day and year after year. They arrested Sheikh because of our pressure. Some of us also got back our land. But, we have to be cautious and stay united so that criminals do not dominate us again,” said a woman in Sandeshkhali’s Patrapara village while distributing sweets.
A 38-year-old woman from Sandeshkhali said, “We are happy. We won. But, our fight hasn’t ended. You can say, this is just the beginning. We have to fight until we get justice and these criminals get punished.”
There are also demands for the arrest of Sheikh’s brother Sirajuddin, who has been accused of land grabbing in several areas of the region. “We are also demanding the arrest of Sirajuddin, who led the land grabbing activities in many areas,” said a 48-year-old woman.
Utpal Maity, a local resident who participated in the protests against Sheikh, said, “Many of our brothers who protested against atrocities of TMC leaders were arrested. We are demanding their bail because they are not habitual offenders. They were protesting against the torture by Sheikh and his associates. So, they should be freed immediately.”
Amid the celebrations, there is a motley group of Sheikh’s supporters who believes that in the end the allegations against him won’t be proved.
In Sandeshkhali-I block, Sheikh is well-known for his fisheries, brick kilns, for his kangaroo courts and for being the “Bhai”. His neighbours still see him as a “gentleman” who always “helped the poor”.
“We do not know what Uttam Sardar or Shibu Hazra (Sheikh’s aides who have been arrested) did. But, we know that Bhai is a gentleman. He always tried to help poor people like us. He never engaged in any antisocial work. What the party is doing with him now is not acceptable. We hope he gets bail soon. No allegations against him will be proved,” said one of Sheikh’s neighbours on condition of anonymity.
Ajijul Sheikh, an LPG distributor in Dhamakhali Bazar, said, “Bhai, never did any of those things which the people of Sandeshkhali are alleging. His associates may have grabbed land but Bhai has never done such things. We do not know how his party suspended him for six years while they did not take any action against Jyotipriya Mallick till date.”
Until his arrest on Thursday, Sheikh had been on the run since January 5 after a team of ED officials was attacked by a mob of his supporters near his residence in Sandeshkhali. The team had gone to his residence to conduct searches in connection with the ration ‘scam’. He was considered close to former state minister Mullick who was arrested in the same case last year by the ED.
Meanwhile, large contingents of police were posted since Friday morning in Sandeshkhali block 1 and 2. Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) was imposed in 49 areas to prevent any further flare-ups. Policemen in riot gear were seen at Akunjipara crossing, near Sheikh’s home.
Heavy police deployment was seen in crossings as well as in villages which saw violence recently including Sandeshkhali island and Belmajur 1 and 2 Gram Panchayats.
Leader of Opposition in state Assembly and BJP MLA Suvendu Adhikari, who visited some areas in Sandeshkhali, called Sheikh’s arrest an “understanding” and not an “arrest”.
Speaking to media persons, Adhikari said , “This is not arrest. This is mutual understanding. You saw that when Shahjahan is going to the court, a police officer is escorting him. We want a CBI investigation. The people of Sandeshkhali were totally deprived. Sheikh and other TMC leaders looted thousand of crores of money from them. Irrespective of their caste, creed and political affiliation, people in Sandeshkhali are now demanding a CBI investigation. Sheikh should be sent to CBI custody.”