“We will abide by the court order”: LoP Suvendu Adhikari on BJP’s Sandeshkhali visit

Kolkata (West Bengal) [India], February 20 (ANI): After the Supreme Court’s rufusal to entertain a plea seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or Special Investigation Team (SIT) in sexual assault of women in Sandeshkhali, the leader of opposition in the West Bengal Legislative Assembly and BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari said on Tuesday that we will abide by the court order.

“On Monday, the hearing took place for the whole day. All the options were discussed… We are leaving after receiving the court’s order… We hope that we don’t need to go to court for the third time. One to two senior officers called me in the morning and asked me to come (to Sandeshkhali) after 11 am…” said BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari.

The situation in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali sparked a war of words between the ruling and opposition parties with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) alleging atrocities against women there and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accusing the BJP of fomenting trouble in the area.

The Sandeshkhali area has been witnessing unrest for over 10 days as women protestors are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides.

Notably, the Supreme Court on Monday observed that the Calcutta High Court has taken cognisance of the matter relating to the alleged sexual assault of women living in village Sandeshkhali in West Bengal and refused to entertain a plea seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the issue.

A bench of justices BV Nagarathna and Augustine George Masih remarked that the plea seeking a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or Special Investigation Team (SIT) can be considered by the High Court.

The bench also noted that the High Court has already taken cognisance of the issue.

After the top court did not get convinced by the petitioner, Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava withdrew the petition from the Supreme Court. However, the court granted liberty to the petitioner to approach the Calcutta HC with his prayer.

The plea has been filed by Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava, who has moved the Supreme Court to seek the transfer of the investigation and subsequent trial outside West Bengal in connection with the alleged sexual assault of women living in village Sandeshkhali in West Bengal.

The plea moved by Advocate Alakh Alok Srivastava also sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation or a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under SC monitoring.

Earlier, a ‘peace home’ has been opened at the Raj Bhavan in Kolkata from Monday to provide temporary refuge to the victims of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district.

Speaking to ANI, the Officer on Special Duty (OSD) to Governor CV Ananda Bose, Sandip Rajput, said on Monday that the idea of opening the peace home was initiated by Governor CV Anand Bose after his recent visit to Sandeshkhali.

Trinamool Congress leader Shibu Hazra, one of the associates of TMC strongman Shahjahan Sheikh, was arrested earlier in connection with the Sandeshkhali violence issue, was sent to police custody for eight days on Sunday.

After visiting West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali, National Commission for Women’s (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma on Monday demanded the resignation of West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee.