The Nationwide Human Proper Fee (NHRC) in its spot enquiry report dated April 12 has revealed obtrusive and surprising alleged incidents of sexual assault, rape, gang-rape, compelled and unpaid labour, compelled migration and land seize for fish farming by Shibu Prasad Hazra, Uttam Sardar, Amir Ali Ghazi and others who allegedly acted underneath the instructions and patronage of Trinamool Congress chief Sheikh Shahjahan. The ladies in Sandeshkhali and Jheliakhali advised the NHRC officers that the ladies of the village have been referred to as on the TMC Occasion workplace by the named alleged accused individuals on pretext of celebration assembly and assembly of Self Assist Teams.
“They used to make the ladies sit within the workplace late at night time and used abusive and filthy language. The younger and good wanting ladies have been particularly focused. They have been taken contained in the room at TMC workplace at Sandeshkhali and have been sexually exploited/gang-raped. Different ladies have been engaged in work resembling making meals, cleansing the workplace ponds and so forth.” the report mentioned.
The report additional says that ladies have been compelled to go to the TMC celebration workplace every time referred to as, even when their relations have been ailing. “If the ladies refused to return and defy orders, ladies and their relations have been crushed up and have been taken to the celebration workplace forcefully.”
In accordance with NHRC report, from the interval between Jan 1, 2023 to Feb 25, 2024, 3 minor women and 37 grownup ladies are nonetheless untraced.
Sandeshkhali Police Recommended Rape Victims To Compromise With Accused
The NHRC report cites situations of police refusing to register FIR and advising for a “compromise” with the accused.
“Virtually each sufferer has advised the NHRC workforce that the police don’t reply to their complaints in opposition to Shibu Prasad Hazara, Uttam Sardar and their associates. Shockingly, they have been suggested to strategy the alleged accused or their alleged patron Sheikh Shahjahan instantly and search a compromise as a substitute of receiving the assist they sought from the police. The frequent individuals have misplaced religion in native police,” the report learn.
Sandeshkhali Males Pressured To Migrate Due To Unpaid Labour, Exploitation
In accordance with the report, a big variety of males from Sandeshkhali have chosen to hunt livelihoods in distant locations, forsaking the ladies, kids, aged who proceed to reside within the villages. “The choice emigrate is usually pushed by the pursuit of higher financial alternatives and likewise staying of their hometown might probably expose them to working for alleged accused or political events with out wages.”
In accordance with NHRC report, one ladies at Majher para, Sandeshkhali disclosed to its workforce that a couple of 12 months again she was raped two-three occasions by Shibu Prasad Hazara and Uttam Sardar however she shouldn’t be prepared to report back to police resulting from concern of alleged accused and social stigma. She had disclosed it to her husband, who then went to the Occasion workplace, nonetheless, he was crushed up, after which he went to Bengaluru to earn livelihood.
Households are sending younger women to stick with distant kinfolk resulting from concern of being accused.
Land Seize In Sandeshkhali For Fish Farming
It has additionally been alleged that the aforementioned individuals and their associates used to inundate farmers fields with saltwater, rendering the land unfit for conventional agriculture. Subsequently, they coerce the distressed farmers into leasing land for pisciculture (fish farming), exploiting the hostile situations they created for their very own achieve.
Additional, they by no means give the promised lease quantity for the land. “On either side of the highway in direction of Sandeshkhali block nearly all the land, at current, is getting used for Pisciculture,” the NHRC workforce famous.
Shiekh Shahjahan’s Associates Casted Votes In Villagers’ Names, Looted MGNREGA Funds
The NHRC workforce discovered that villagers have been discriminated in opposition to or denied advantages of State/Central Authorities schemes resembling outdated age pension, MGNREGA, Public distribution system, monetary assist to construct their homes and bathrooms and so forth., by the involved officers in
connivance with the alleged group of individuals is of deep concern.
“Additional, allegations of deprivation of the suitable to vote are severe in nature and undermine the democratic values of the nation,” the report mentioned.
It has been alleged that the accused looted the wages of the villagers underneath the MGNREGA and compelled them to handover substantial sums to the influential alleged accused individuals.
The NHRC report states that the pervasive concern of reprisal, coupled with the facility dynamics at play, acted as a formidable barrier, stopping these people from voicing their grievances.
“This local weather of terror not solely perpetuated the cycle of abuse but additionally underscores the pressing must create a protected and supportive setting for victims to interrupt free from the shackles of silence…The ambiance of concern not solely impacts the victims but additionally has a unfavourable affect on the expansion and well being of the kids who continuously witness the ordeals of their mother and father within the palms of those alleged accused,” the report learn.