Sandeshkhali: HC orders CBI probe

More than three months after the small island of Sandeshkhali hit the headlines after an Enforcement Directorate team was assaulted by villagers and the local womenfolk accused Trinamool Congress leaders of sexual harassment and land grab, the Calcutta High Court took cognisance of the allegations and ordered a “comprehensive investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation”.

- SUPROTIM MUKHERJEE

A division bench, presided over by Chief Justice T S Sivagnanam and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharyya, ordered the CBI to submit a comprehensive report regarding the alleged illegal forcible conversion of agricultural land into water bodies for pisciculture after conducting a thorough inspection of revenue records and physical inspection of land alleged to have been converted.

The court directed that the report would have to be submitted by May 2 and directed the State Government and the State police to render all help to the CBI. It directed the State Government to install closed circuit television (CCTV) and LED lights in all “sensitive areas of Sandeshkhali”. It ordered that the State police would have to take the responsibility of providing security to witnesses and victims.”

The court had earlier expressed deep concern over the contents of affidavits presented before it during a hearing on a PIL seeking an independent investigation into the Sandeshkhali sexual harassment allegations.