Fresh protests erupted in Sandeshkhali on Friday with locals in the Bermajur gram panchayat targeting a local Trinamool Congress leader. A group of villagers attacked the house of local Trinamool Congress leader Ajit Maity and beat him up. The villagers alleged that Trinamool leader Sheikh Shahjahan’s brother Sheikh Sirajuddin had grabbed land from the locals and Mr. Maity had helped him in the act. Earlier in the day a hut near a bhery (shallow water pond) owned by Mr. Sirajuddin was set on fire, triggering panic in the area.
As police detained a few locals, the situation turned more violent with women in groups trying to stop the police vehicle. The villagers tried to block the narrow roads by cutting down trees. As tension prevailed in the area, senior police officers, including Director General of Police (DGP) Rajeev Kumar came to the spot and assured that all grievances will be addressed. “The rule of law needs to be established. We will take stern action against whoever try to take the law into their hands,” the DGP said. The police officers present at the spot asked the assaulted Trinamool leader to file a complaint and said there were allegations against him which would also be looked into. The villagers said the police did not heed to any allegations made by them in the past and told them to settle their disputes with Mr. Shahjahan and his aides. They were also upset that Mr. Shahjahan, against whom the allegations of land grab and violence were made, had not been arrested.
