Sandeshkhali of North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal is once again in the news. The once peaceful rural area has now again become a political arena. Sheikh Shahjahan, once Mamata’s favorite and local powerful leader of Trinamool Congress, had taken possession of Jar (wealth), Joru (women) and land here. This story, which started in 2011, came to light in 2024, when women started speaking openly against cruelty. Shah Jahan and his henchmen sexually exploited, snatched lands and beat up those who protested for years, which became difficult for them to bear.
In the same year, an ED team that was going to raid a money laundering case was attacked. After this Sheikh absconded. However, as political pressure increased, he was arrested, after which the matter became even more heated. Now this conspiracy has taken a new form. In fact, on Wednesday, the car of key witness Bholanath Ghosh, who was going to testify against Shahjahan, was crushed by a truck. His son and driver died, while Ghosh is fighting for his life in a private hospital. Is this an obstacle to justice or a political game? The struggle of the women of Sandeshkhali has now deepened, where the shadow of fear and oppression still looms.
ED officials pasted notices at the house of TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh in Sandeshkhali after the raid.
Let us try to know and understand the whole story of messageless violence.
Who is Sheikh Shahjahan?
Political change in Sandeshkhali begins in 2011, when Mamata emerged in Bengal. From local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh, who had established his power in the village since 2011. Sheikh was active in the business of fish farming and sand mining before entering politics. However, with increasing dominance, cruelty also increased. He was accused of sexually exploiting local women, grabbing land and suppressing opponents. Everything was calm on the surface for 13 years i.e. till 2024. Since Shaikh was the president of the rural unit and was considered close to the Mamata Banerjee government, the women of the village were silent due to fear of him.
attack on ed
The turning point of the story came in January 2024. The Enforcement Directorate (ED) team was going to raid Sheikh’s house. He was accused of money laundering and illegal sand mining. But, on January 5, the ED team was attacked. A mob of around 1,000 people pelted stones at officers and broke vehicles, in which ED officer Satyajit Biswas was seriously injured. Before the ED team could reach Sheikh escaped and went underground. The report said that it was said that Sheikh’s supporters had attacked the investigation team at his instigation. The opposition (BJP, CPI(M)) fiercely attacked the Mamata government. He called it the result of political patronage. However, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee called it a conspiracy by ED.
Security personnel closed the main gate of Bhawani Bhawan after CBI officials took away Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, accused in the Sandeshkhali case in Kolkata.
What happened after the attack on ED
In February 2024, a fire broke out in Sandeshkhali. Women started speaking openly against Shahjahan Sheikh.
- The women accused Sheikh and his associates Shibu Hazra and Uttam Sardar of sexually harassing women since 2011.
- There were allegations of snatching lands and beating up those who protested.
- One woman started trembling when she said that the nights in Sheikh’s mansion were very scary.
- Opposition parties also attacked. Attacking the Mamata government, BJP called it an ‘insult to the daughters of Bengal’.
- Many leaders including BJP leader Smriti Irani had visited that area. TMC denied all the allegations. Shibu and Uttam were arrested under public pressure.
- Shaikh was still absconding, but was arrested from Minakhan on 29 February.
- On the orders of Calcutta High Court, CBI took over the investigation. The High Court had accused the state police of bias.
What are the allegations?
The case took a new turn after the arrest of Shahjahan Sheikh. CBI filed the charge sheet in April 2024. Sheikh was accused of kidnapping of women, rape, land grabbing and attack on ED. More than 50 women testified against Shahjahan Sheikh. Sheikh appealed for bail, but the court rejected it. Sheikh suffered a major blow from his party when he was expelled. In May 2024, violence broke out once again in Sandeshkhali. Clashes between TMC and BJP workers, in which 5 people were injured. At the same time, in this case, the National Commission for Women (NCW) reported that ‘under political patronage, this was organized crime.’
Arrest, action and now a new conspiracy
In June 2024, ED seized assets worth Rs 1,200 crore of Sheikh including fish farms, sand mines, hotels. In August, CBI registered a case against 42 people, of which Sheikh was the main accused. Now, when key witness Bholanath Ghosh was going to testify against Shaikh, his car was hit by a truck on December 10. This accident happened on Basanti Highway, in which Ghosh’s son Satyajit (32) and driver Shahnoor Mollah (27) died on the spot. Ghosh himself is fighting for his life in a hospital. Ghosh’s family has accused Sheikh of the deadly attack.
