Independent fact-finding team stopped by police on way to Sandeshkhali

Published on: 25 Feb 2024 at 03:44 PM

Published by: PreetiMahajan

Kolkata, February 25

Six members of an independent fact-finding committee led by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court L Narasimha Reddy were stopped by police as they were proceeding to trouble-torn Sandeshkhali area in West Bengal’s North 24 Parganas district to probe alleged incidents of atrocities on women.

Citing that Section 144 of the CrPC was in force in parts of Sandeshkhali and it would not be prudent to allow them access to the area even in groups of four-five, senior police officers stopped their convoy at the Bhojerhat area, 52 km from the riverine area, on Basanti Highway.

Reddy, accompanied by former IPS officer Raj Pal Singh, former National Commission for Women member Charu Wali Khanna, advocates OP Vyas and Bhavna Bajaj, and senior journalist Sanjeev Nayak, sat on the wayside vowing to proceed to the area as high drama followed.

The six were detained by police and taken in a vehicle and later released, a police officer said.

“This is completely illegal. We have told the police personnel that as law-abiding citizens we will not break rules. No curfew has been imposed in Sandeshkhali. So we can go in two groups. At least two of our women members should be allowed to visit the females who had borne the brunt of atrocities of musclemen enjoying political patronage and impunity from police action in all these days till the media unravelled the shocking truth,” Reddy said.

Claiming they were given a copy of Section 144 order as they set off for the journey, he said, “The administration cannot stop civil society members of the country from interacting with victims of human rights violation. What they (administration) are scared to hide.”