A delegation of the National Commission for Women (NCW), led by chairman Vijaya Kishore Rahatkar, met the riot-affected people in the Jafrabad and Samsergunj areas of Murshidabad district on Saturday and assured them that all steps would be taken by the Centre to ensure their safety in future.
The affected people, including women, narrated their plight during the violent days and demanded that permanent BSF camps be set up in every area for their security.
Rahatkar was accompanied by NCW team member Archana Majumder and BJP MLA Sreerupa Mitra Chowdhury.
During their visit to Jafrabad, Dhulian, Samsergunj areas, the affected-people while sharing their plight with the NCW team said, “We can’t return to that violence-hit situation. They are till now threatening us. We need a permanent BSF camp for our safety.”
The riot-affected women and the villagers were seen holding placards that displayed messages – ‘We don’t want Lakshmir Bhandar, we want a BSF camp. We want security’.
‘We are under attack, ‘ read another placard.
The NCW chief told the victims that there was “no cause for worry” as the Centre was beside them.
“The whole country is standing with you. Central government is also with you. Himmat rakho. We will give all reports to the Central government and they will surely take necessary steps,” Rahatkar said.
“We have come here to see your plight. Please don’t worry. The country and the Commission are beside you all. Don’t feel that you are alone,” Rahatkar told the victims at Betbona village in Murshidabad.
NCW member Archana Majumder told mediapersons that the commission would report to Union Home Minister Amit Shah and convey the demand of the riot-affected women for setting up BSF camps there.
“What happened in Murshidabad we can’t imagine. This is unprecedented. People are living in extreme fear,” she said.
BJP MLA Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, told PTI Videos, “This is my constituency, Dakshin Malda. I have been contesting from here for the last 12 years, and what I have seen this time is unprecedented. I had never seen violence on such a scale here in the last 12 years.”
A three-member NCW team had visited a relief camp in Malda district on Friday and facilitated formal complaints to be lodged with the Commission.
“I have met and interacted with women and children here at the camp. I am shocked seeing the condition of women and children here. They have shared the situations they have faced. These women and children faced a lot of problems and they were forcibly evicted and have gone through unimaginable trauma. They are scared. What they had gone through is beyond imagination. Especially women and children are most affected in these areas,” Rahatkar had said on Friday.
She further added, “We took stock of the situation. Considering the situation, we already formed an inquiry committee. We spoke with affected people and will submit a detailed report.”
— with PTI