Bengal’s Sandeshkhali events contradict official records of women’s safety: Calcutta High Court

The Calcutta High Court observed that the recent incidents in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district, may not align with the state’s official records of women’s safety. The division bench heard a suo motu PIL regarding violence and harassment against women in the area.

Chief Justice T.S. Sivagnanam expressed concern about the discrepancies, stating, “If even one accusation of many proves to be true, it is a matter of shame.” The women victims’ counsel presented affidavits detailing their experiences in Sandeshkhali, prompting scrutiny of the situation.

BJP leader Priyanka Tibrewal, representing the women, highlighted illegal land grabbing as a primary issue, implicating even the police. The hearing involved heated discussions as the state government’s Advocate General Kishore Datta questioned Tibrewal’s motives and urged against political discourse in the PIL.

The division bench reserved judgment on the matter after considering arguments from both sides. The case sheds light on the challenges faced by women in Sandeshkhali and raises questions about the effectiveness of existing safety measures in West Bengal.