Sandeshkhali sexual assault: PM Modi meets women who say they were threatened by Sheikh Shahjahan

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday (Mar 6) met the women who have alleged sexual assault by suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal. Meanwhile, the Calcutta High Court has once again asked the West Bengal government to transfer the probe into the attack on Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials in Sandeshkhali to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

PM Modi meets five Sandeshkhali women

The five women from Sandeshkhali met PM Modi as Shahjahan’s threats against them reportedly continued. The meeting took place after the Indian PM addressed a public rally in Barasat, North 24 Parganas district where Sandeshkhali is also located.

WATCH |Indian PM Modi meets with women victims from Sandeshkhali village in West Bengal

Sandeshkhali has witnessed unrest for months now after several women accused a local TMC leader who was arrested after being on the run for several weeks, on February 29. Shahjahan and his aides have been accused of systemic gang-rape and sexual exploitation of women in the Sandeshkhali area of the district.

Shahjahan, after his arrest, was suspended by the TMC for around six years. “Whatever happened in Sandeshkhali is a matter of shame. The TMC government is trying to protect the person responsible for this,” said the Indian PM.

He added, “However, they have received a setback from the high court as well as the Supreme Court…The storm of Sandeshkhali will reach every part of West Bengal.”

Multiple media reports citing women that the PM spoke to said that he listened to them like a “father figure”.

Shahjahanfinallyhanded overto CBI onCalcutta HC orders

Sandeshkhali accused Sheikh Shahjahan was finally handed over to the CBI on Wednesday by the West Bengal Police. The handover took place after the Calcutta High courthad directed the police to hand over the suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader to the central agency by 4:15 pm.

The high court had asked the Crime Investigation Department (CID) to hand over Shahjahan on Tuesday, but the cops had refused saying that the Mamata Banerjee government had challenged theorder in the Supreme Court.

The Calcutta HC, on Wednesday again ordered the TMC government in West Bengal, to hand over Shahjahan’s case to CBI.

This came a day after the court had directed the police to transfer custody of Shahjahan, as well as case materials, by 4:30 (local time). However, three hours later the CBI left empty-handed from the police headquarters in Kolkata, on Tuesday (Mar 5).

On Wednesday morning, West Bengal government counsel Abhishek Manu Singhvi again appealed before the Supreme Court after his appeal on Tuesday was swiftly rejected by the apex court.

The West Bengal village of Sandeshkhali has become a flashpoint between the TMC and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) ahead of the upcoming general elections.

The TMC strongman was on the run following the attack on ED officials in Sandeshkhali last month.

(With inputs from agencies)