Calcutta High Court Holds Administration and Ruling Party 100% Responsible for Voiceless Victims’ Plight

The Calcutta High Court has reprimanded the West Bengal government in the Sandeshkhali case on Thursday. The court stated, “If even one percent of the allegations in this case are true, it is shameful. Therefore, the entire administration and the ruling party are 100% morally responsible. This is a matter of the safety of these people.”

A bench comprising Chief Justice T.S. Thakur and Justice Hiranmay Bhattacharya heard the plea in the Sandeshkhali case. The main accused in the Sandeshkhali case, Shahjahan against whom a PIL was filed, was arrested by the West Bengal Police on February 29. Subsequently, the police handed him over to the CBI.

The High Court stated, “This is a matter of the safety of these people.” Chief Justice T.S. Thakur remarked, “Let us assume that even one affidavit is true, then it is shameful. Therefore, the entire administration and the ruling party are 100% morally responsible. This is a matter of the safety of these people. If you see the report of the SIT-National Commission, if even one percent is true, then it is 100% shameful.”

The lawyers representing other PIL applicants argued that witnesses were reluctant to testify in this case. They claimed that no woman has come forward to speak in court due to security reasons.

Another lawyer, Priyanka Tibrewal, stated, “Most women are scared. They can’t even forget emails, let alone write letters. More than 500 women have complained of national harassment against us. We have affidavits stating that only one Shahjahan has been arrested. He is roaming freely in the villages with 1000 men, threatening not to file complaints against Shahjahan. These people say that if women complain, they will break their husbands’ and children’s heads and play football with them.

In the Sandeshkhali case, Sheikh Shahjahan and his two accomplices, Shibu Hajra and Uttam Sardar, have been accused of gang-raping women over an extended period. The police have arrested 18 individuals in connection with this case, including Shibu Hajra, Uttam Sardar, and Shahjahan.

Shahjahan is a district-level leader of the TMC in West Bengal. He was raided by the ED on January 5 in a money laundering case. Following this, he and his supporters attacked a team of officials. Officers had to rescue themselves. Since then, Shahjahan has been on the run.

The High Court had ordered the West Bengal government to arrest Shahjahan. Regarding Sheikh’s arrest, Chief Justice T.S. Shivagnam of the Calcutta High Court issued an order on Monday that Shahjahan must be produced in court on March 4 for the next hearing. There is no stay on his arrest.

The court expressed surprise that incidents of atrocities in Sandeshkhali were brought to the attention of the police four years ago. There are 42 cases of sexual violence, but it took four years to file chargesheets.