KatherinSteger: made bio!

2026-04-30T18:34:03Z

made bio!

New page

{{Short description|Political violence in West Bengal, India, in 2024}}
{{Context|date=January 2025}}
{{Use Indian English|date=January 2024}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2024}}
{{Infobox civilian attack
| partof =
| title = 2024 Sandeshkhali violence
| location = [[Sandeshkhali]], [[North 24 Parganas]], [[West Bengal]], [[India]]
| coordinates = {{Coord|22.3611211|88.8815470|display=it|format=dms}}
| map = {{Location map|India West Bengal#India|relief=1|lat_deg=22.3611211|lon_deg=88.8815470}}
| date = {{start date|2024|01|05}}
| time = 09:30
| timezone = [[Indian Standard Time|IST]] ([[UTC+05:30]])
}}

On 5 January 2024, a team of [[Enforcement Directorate]] officers visited the village of [[Sandeshkhali]] in [[West Bengal]], [[India]], to interrogate a local [[Trinamool Congress]] leader, Sheikh Shahjahan, about his involvement with the corruption scandal of the politician [[Jyotipriya Mallick]]. Mallick, a former minister with the Trinamool Congress, pled guilty for embezzling multiple [[crores]] from food rationing funds in October 2023, implicating Shahjahan. In January 2024, the ED investigated additional allegations of sexual assault and improper [[Land grabbing|land acquisition]] against Shahjahan. In the resulting altercation, three ED officers were injured by local supporters of Shahjahan.
Immediately after the incident, Shahjahan fled, remaining a fugitive for 55 days until his apprehension on 29 February. He was suspended by the Trinamool Congress immediately after his arrest.

== Background==
On 5 January 2024, a group of [[Enforcement Directorate|ED]] officers went to interrogate Sheikh Shahjahan, a [[Trinamool Congress|TMC]] [[District council (India)|district council]] member from Sarberia village of [[Sandeshkhali I]] [[Community development block|CD block]] in [[North 24 Parganas district]] of [[West Bengal]] in connection with the ration smuggling case in which senior minister in [[Government of West Bengal]], [[Jyotipriya Mallick]] was arrested in October 2023. Immediately after the raid, the ED officers were assaulted and attacked by the local villagers, along with destroying their phones, important files by the local supporters of Sheikh Shahjahan.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/enforcement-directorate-team-paramilitary-forces-attacked-west-bengal-north-24-parganas-ration-scam-case-raids-2484532-2024-01-05|date=5 January 2024|access-date=11 January 2024|title=Enforcement Directorate team en route to raid Trinamool leader attacked in Bengal|work=[[India Today]]}}</ref> The vehicles of the mediapersons which were present there, were also vandalized and they were beaten badly.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.freepressjournal.in/india/ed-team-attacked-during-raid-in-west-bengals-sandeshkhali-visuals-surface|date=5 January 2024|access-date=13 January 2024|work=[[Free Press Journal]]|title=ED Team Attacked During Raid In West Bengal's Sandeshkhali; Visuals Surface}}</ref> Following that incident, on 11 January 2024, ED officers filed a petition for the protection of them in [[Calcutta High Court]] for which the protection was granted by the court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.deccanherald.com/india/west-bengal/calcutta-hc-grants-protection-to-ed-officers-in-sandeshkhali-case-2844246|work=[[Deccan Herald]]|title=Calcutta HC grants protection to ED officers in Sandeshkhali case|date=11 January 2024|access-date=14 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2024/Jan/11/calcutta-high-court-grants-protection-to-ed-officers-in-sandeshkhali-case-2650039.html|title=Calcutta High Court grants protection to ED officers in Sandeshkhali case|date=11 January 2024|access-date=14 January 2024|work=[[New Indian Express]]}}</ref> The court also ordered for an interim stay on the FIRs which were filed by police against ED officials on the day of the raid and violence.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/kolkata-news/calcutta-hc-issues-interim-stay-on-fir-against-ed-officials-in-sandeshkhali-attack-case-101704970295642.html|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=11 January 2024|access-date=13 January 2024|title=Sandeshkhali attack case: Calcutta HC orders interim stay on FIR against ED officials}}</ref> On 12 January 2024, two arrested in connection with the attack on the ED team by [[West Bengal Police]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/cities/kolkata-news/sandeshkhali-case-two-arrested-in-connection-with-attack-on-ed-team-in-west-bengal-101705058071683.html|title=Sandeshkhali case: Two arrested in connection with attack on ED team in West Bengal|work=Hindustan Times|date=12 January 2024|access-date=13 January 2024}}</ref> On 25 January 2024, ED again with full force of [[Central Industrial Security Force|CISF]] went to Sandeshkhali to his residence for raid and they broke the doors and entered the house, but were able to find nothing.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/ration-distribution-scam-19-days-after-sandeshkhali-attack-ed-searches-tmc-leaders-house-again-9126515/|date=25 January 2024|access-date=26 January 2024|work=[[Indian Express]]|title=Ration distribution 'scam': 19 days after Sandeshkhali attack, ED searches TMC leader's house again}}</ref> Following the attack incident, the local villagers alleged that Sheikh Shahjahan was like a gangster of Sandeshkhali, who used to threaten the people with his two aides, TMC leaders Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar and the mob. Allegations of systemic sexual assault on many women of Sandeshkhali surfaced in mainstream media during early February 2024. They also claimed that both Shibu and Uttam raped the women of the villages by calling them to their offices at ungodly hours and now police is denying to register FIRs.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/sandeshkhali-rape-survivor-alleges-attack-on-her-home/article67860992.ece?_gl=1*3z5tpq*_ga*YW1wLUdqR2Q3eC1mV2twSGVUUTg5LUg0QU52UHNwSEpYSWNWNDdCSzZXZG54ZFVDSk1XQzBLczVjU0VnQ0gwNlFHYTU.|title=Sandeshkhali rape survivor alleges attack on her home|work=[[The Hindu]]|date=18 February 2024|access-date=22 February 2024}}</ref>

On 17 February 2024, Shibu Hazra was arrested by the police. He was sent to 8 days of police custody by the court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.news18.com/india/sandeshkhali-unrest-main-accused-shibu-hazra-tmc-arrested-west-bengal-latest-news-8783214.html|title=Trinamool Leader Shibu Hazra Arrested After Rape Allegations By Sandeshkhali Women; BJP Reacts|work=[[News18]]|date=17 January 2024|access-date=22 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/sandeshkhali-police-add-gangrape-sections-say-got-no-complaint-against-shahjahan-sheikh-101708186529561.html|title=Sandeshkhali: Police add gangrape sections, say got no complaint against Shahjahan Sheikh|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=17 January 2024|access-date=22 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Wire |first=The |date=2024-02-18 |title=Systemic Sexual Assault, an Oppressive TMC and Not Much Recourse: What Sandeshkhali Villagers Say |url=https://www.thenewsminute.com/news/systemic-sexual-assault-an-oppressive-tmc-and-not-much-recourse-what-sandeshkhali-villagers-say |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=The News Minute |language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/sandeshkhali-violence-court-sends-tmcs-shibu-hazra-to-eight-days-of-police-custody/articleshow/107797732.cms|work=[[The Economic Times]]|date=17 February 2024|title=Sandeshkhali violence: Court sends TMC's Shibu Hazra to eight days of police custody}}</ref>

Soon after the news broke, several protests took place across the state by several opposition parties including the [[Bharatiya Janata Party, West Bengal|Bharatiya Janata Party]] and the [[Communist Party of India (Marxist), West Bengal|Communist Party of India (Marxist)]].<ref>{{Cite web |title=Sandeshkhali Unrest: As Women-Led Protests Escalate, TMC's 'Outsider' Claims Find Little Resonance |url=https://thewire.in/women/sandeshkhali-unrest-as-women-led-protests-escalate-tmcs-outsider-claims-find-little-resonance |date=19 February 2024|access-date=2024-02-22 |website=The Wire}}</ref> An inquiry was also launched on the allegations and several arrest were made.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Women cops begin probe in violence-hit Sandeshkhali, prohibitory orders extended |url=https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/sandeshkhali-violence-large-gatherings-banned-till-feb-19-as-tensions-escalate-2501855-2024-02-14 |access-date=2024-02-22 |website=India Today |language=en}}</ref>

On 29 February 2024, at around 5:30 am (IST), Shahjahan was arrested by the police from [[Minakhan]], 30 km from [[Sandeshkhali]] by them.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.livemint.com/news/sandeshkhali-violence-west-bengal-police-arrests-tmc-leader-sheikh-shahjahan-11709172057783.html|title=Sandeshkhali violence: West Bengal Police arrests TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan|date=29 February 2024|work=[[Livemint]]}}</ref>

== Reactions ==
Following the incident, [[Bharatiya Janata Party|BJP]] leader and the leader of opposition in [[West Bengal Legislative Assembly]], [[Suvendu Adhikari]] condemned the attack on the ED in Sandeshkhali. He also alleged that [[West Bengal Police]] is helping Shahjahan to run away. However, TMC spokesperson [[Kunal Ghosh]] denied of such actions and said that Shahjahan is available in Sandeshkhali and had not flown anywhere. On the other hand, [[Communist Party of India (Marxist)|CPI(M)]] leader [[Mohammed Selim (politician)|Mohammed Selim]] has also alleged that police had already talked with Shahjahan for his protection, that's why they are not taking any action against him. LoP Suvendu Adhikari when tried to visit Sandeshkhali with their MLAs, the police stopped and returned them to [[Kolkata]] in the prison van. On the same day, Adhikari filed a petition in the [[Calcutta High Court|High Court]] to get the nod for visiting Sandeshkhali, for which he got the permission from the court.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/bjps-suvendu-adhikari-stopped-from-visiting-bengals-sandeshkhali-despite-court-nod-5091901|title=BJP's Suvendu Adhikari, Stopped From Visiting Sandeshkhali, Gets Court Nod|date=20 February 2024|access-date=22 February 2024|work=[[NDTV]]}}</ref>

On 15 February 2024, [[List of chief ministers of West Bengal|Chief Minister of West Bengal]], [[Mamata Banerjee]] alleged that BJP and [[Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh|RSS]] are using both [[Central Bureau of Investigation|CBI]] and [[Enforcement Directorate|ED]] to create unnecessary violence to win over West Bengal in the [[2024 Indian general election|upcoming Lok Sabha election in 2024]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/mamata-banerjee-blames-rss-for-sandeshkhali-violence-says-there-were-other-plans-101707992602581.html|title=Mamata Banerjee blames RSS for Sandeshkhali violence, says 'there were other plans'|work=[[Hindustan Times]]|date=15 February 2024|access-date=23 February 2024}}</ref>

On 14 February 2024, BJP State President and MP [[Sukanta Majumdar]] was detained by the police, during their sit-on protest in front of SP Office in [[Basirhat]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/newsblogs/daily-news-and-latest-updates-parliament-lok-sabha-elections-pm-modi-ashok-chavan-congress-farmers-protest-march-earthquake-haldwani-violence-israel-hamas-war-live-13-february-2024/liveblog/107642306.cms|work=[[The Economic Times]]|title=Sandeshkhali violence Live Updates: Police detains the West Bengal BJP chief Sukanta Majumdar|date=14 February 2024|access-date=23 February 2024}}</ref>

According to [[Asian News International|ANI]], senior BJP leader and MP [[Dilip Ghosh (politician)|Dilip Ghosh]] alleged that Mamata Banerjee is involved in protecting such criminals like Shahjahan Sheikh.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/sandeshkhali-violence-bjp-mp-dilip-ghosh-alleges-mamata-of-protecting-criminals-like-shahjahan-sheikh20240215101606/|title=Sandeshkhali violence: BJP MP Dilip Ghosh alleges Mamata of protecting "criminals" like Shahjahan Sheikh|date=15 February 2024|access-date=21 February 2024|work=[[Asian News International|ANI News]]|archive-date=19 February 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219090657/https://www.aninews.in/news/national/general-news/sandeshkhali-violence-bjp-mp-dilip-ghosh-alleges-mamata-of-protecting-criminals-like-shahjahan-sheikh20240215101606/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==References==
{{reflist}}

[[Category:Political history of West Bengal]]
[[Category:January 2024 in India|Sandeshkhali violence]]
[[Category:2024 in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Corruption in India]]
[[Category:Corruption in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Controversies in India]]
[[Category:Violence against women in India]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in India]]
[[Category:Political riots in India]]
[[Category:Riots and civil disorder in West Bengal]]
[[Category:Violence in India]]

Sandeshkhali violence - Revision history

KatherinSteger: made bio!