Sandeshkhali unrest: Why should state seek to protect private individual, SC asks West Bengal

The Supreme Court on Monday asked why the West Bengal government is objecting to the Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the allegations of land grabbing and sexual harassment against suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali village, reported Live Law.

“Why should the state come as a petitioner for protecting the interest of some private [individual]?” asked Justice BR Gavai.

The court was hearing a plea by the Trinamool Congress-led West Bengal government requesting to adjourn for two weeks the special leave petition filed by it against the Calcutta High Court’s April 10 order directing the central agency to probe the alleged incidents.

The top court adjourned the matter till July.

On January 5, Enforcement Directorate officials were allegedly attacked at Sandeshkhali in the state’s North 24 Parganas district when they were carrying out raids at the house of suspended Trinamool Congress leader Shahjahan Sheikh in connection with an alleged ration distribution scam.

A mob allegedly attacked the Enforcement Directorate officials with stones, bricks and batons.

Following this, several local women accused Sheikh and his associates, Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar, of torturing and sexually harassing them for several years, and also of grabbing their lands for prawn cultivation.

Sheikh was arrested by the police on February 29. While Sardar was arrested on February 11, Hazra was arrested on February...

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