SANDESHKHALI INCIDENT

INTRODUCTION:

The Sandeshkhali incident was a political violence incident that occurred on May 12, 2019 in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, India. The incident involved a clash between workers of the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) during the 2019 Indian general election campaign.

The Sandeshkhali incident was a shocking example of political violence that of 2019 general elections in West Bengal. On May 12, 2019 a clash broke out between TMC and BJP workers in Sandeshkhali resulting in the deaths of four people and injuries to several others. The incident sparkled a political firestorm with both parties trading blame and allegations of violence. This incident condemned by political leaders and civil society groups and it remains a contentious issue in West Bengal’s political landscape.

FACTS OF THE INCIDENT:

• On 5th January for detection of Ration distribution scam case, ED raids Shahjahan Sheikh’s residence, popularly known as Bhai, who was the leader of TMC, Member of Zilla Parishad in the village of Sandeshkhali. Shahjahan’s men prevented ED from entering his home to discharge their official duties. ED men were assaulted but managed to escape. But when Shahjahan came to know that central govt law enforcement agencies were against him, he absconded. After this incident several women came out in open and protest against the ongoing activities that took place since many years. They alleged that Shahjahan and his men forcibly grabbed their land and even the women were tortured and sexually harassed for several years. 
• TMC men would survey every home and if there was any beautiful woman, primarily a young wife or girl, they would take them to the party office. They keep that women there night after night till they were satisfied. Women protested with bamboo sticks and gheraoed the local police stations demanding immediate arrest of Shahjahan, Shivaprasad Hazara. Tension escalated when the protesting women burnt down three poultry farms owned by Hazra which they claimed were built on a piece of land forcibly grabbed from local villagers. 
• The protests of the women was too much that it forced the Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose to cancel his Kerala trip to review the situation in Sandeshkhali. After talking to the women, Bose described it as “ghastly, shocking and shattering” and something had to be done. In his report Bose also mentioned that the local people want a Special Investigation Team to investigate their allegations. 
• Reacting to these developments, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said that those who were responsible have been put behind bars. The situation was being monitored closely and necessary steps were being taken. Police arrested the persons involved in this incident based upon the allegations.

VIEWS OF CALCUTTA HIGH COURT: 

1. The Calcutta High Court revoked the imposition of Sec 144 in trouble-torn Sandeshkhali saying that the state administration usually identifies the disturbed areas and imposes prohibitory orders in specific zones. It also said that state should deploy more security forces and there should be close monitoring through drones and CCTV cameras. 
2. Another Calcutta High Court Judge Justice Apurba Sinha Ray took “suo moto” cognizance of the allegations about the local women were sexually harassed and tribal land forcibly taken away and ordered the state to file a report within seven days.

SEVERAL FACTORS THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE VIOLENCE ARE AS :-

1. Political rivalry: The TMC and BJP have a long standing political rivalry in West Bengal which escalated during 2019 elections.
2. Local tensions: Sandeshkhali has a history of political violence and local tensions were already simmering before the incident.
3. Election related disputes: Disputes over this issues such as polling booth management and voter lists contributed to tensions.
4. Provocation and retaliation: Provocative statements and actions by leaders and workers of both parties led to retaliation and escalation of violence.
5. Communal undertones: Some reports suggest that communal undertones and religious polarisation may have played a role in violence.
6. Muscle power and intimidation: Both parties allegedly used muscle power and intimidation tactics to assert their dominance in the area.
7. Failure of law and order: The local administration and police were criticised for failing to maintain law and order allowing the situation to spiral out of control.

These factors combined to create a volatile atmosphere that ultimately led to the Sandeshkhali violence. However, it is important to note the exact circumstances and motivations behind the incident are still disputed and require further investigation. 

CONCLUSION:

Thus, the Sandeshkhali incident was a tragic event that resulted in the loss of lives and highlighted the intense political rivalry and violence in West Bengal. The incident was a culmination of various factors including political tensions, local disputes and communal undertones which were exacerbated by provocative statements and actions by political leaders and workers. By learning from this incident we can work towards creating a more peaceful and democratic political environment in India. To prevent such incidents in future, it is essential to —

• Address the underlying political and social tensions
• Promote peaceful political competition
• Strengthen law and order mechanisms
• Ensure accountability for those responsible for political violence.

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AUTHOR:  RUPSA MAJUMDER, STUDENT OF B.A.LLB (HONS.)

COLLEGE:  DEPARTMENT OF LAW, HAZRA (CALCUTTA) UNIVERSITY)