The SC concluded its hearing of ED’s application to transfer the investigation into the assault of agency officers in Sandeshkhali from CID to CBI yesterday, but reserved its judgement.
The allegations against the accused include land grabbing and sexual assault. The SC had taken cognizance of the case suo motu.
Sheikh, the main accused in the Sandeshkhali land grab and sexual harassment cases, were nabbed by the police a few days ago after remaining in hiding ever since the case hit the headlines.
Sandeshkhali, a village in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, had seen massive protests over the allegations against TMC leader Sheikh and several of his strongmen. Many local women had accused Sheikh and his supporters of land-grab and sexually assaulting them under coercion.
Shajahan had been hiding after a mob, apparently in his payroll, assaulted ED officials who had gone to search his premises in connection with a corruption case (an alleged ration distribution scam).On January 5 this year, the ED officials who went to carry out the raid were thrashed and chased away by Sheikh’s people. Sheikh went into hiding shortly thereafter. After that episode, local women came out in large numbers with allegations that Shajahan and his men had usurped their lands to set up prawn farms and had been sexually harassing them for years. It touched of major protests in the area and a blame game between political parties.
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