In the small town of Sandeshkhali, tensions were running high as allegations of sexual harassment and land grabbing were causing unrest among the local tribal people.The National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson, Rekha Sharma, along with a three-member delegation, arrived in the troubled area on Monday to investigate the claims and speak directly with the affected women.
This was the second attempt by the NCW to address the grievances of the local women, as a previous delegation was reportedly denied the opportunity to speak with them by the local administration.Rekha Sharma, determined to hear the voices of the oppressed, expressed her commitment to conducting one-on-one discussions with the affected women before engaging with local authorities.
Before embarking on their fact-finding mission, Sharma accused Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee of hindering investigations by not allowing state officials to cooperate. "No one should fear, and feel free to talk to us regarding their grievances of harassment," Sharma told reporters, emphasising the importance of the women's voices in the investigation.
As the NCW delegation made its way to Sandeshkhali, the situation in the troubled town was beginning to stabilise following the arrest of two Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders, Uttam Sardar and Shibu Prasad Hazra, who were accused of sexual harassment and forcefully acquiring land from the tribal community. However, the alleged mastermind, TMC leader Sahjahan Sheikh, remained elusive.
The ruling TMC in West Bengal dismissed the NCW's visit as politically motivated, with spokesperson Joy Prakash Majumdar accusing the members of being affiliated with the BJP.
Majumdar questioned the sincerity of the NCW's investigation, suggesting that they should focus on other states like Madhya Pradesh and Manipur, where similar incidents have been reported.
Despite the political tensions, Rekha Sharma and her delegation continued their mission, determined to gather first hand accounts from the women in Sandeshkhali.
Their findings would be compiled into an on-the-spot study report to be submitted to the President Droupadi Murmu, highlighting the importance of addressing issues of harassment and land grabbing in the region.(UNI)
