Kolkata:

Fresh tension erupted at Sandeskhali island in West Bengal today when BJP supporters allegedly attacked a Trinamool Congress worker during a protest. Tatan Gayen, an aide of Trinamool MLA Sukumar Mahata, was attacked at a stone’s throw from the local police station. Police reached the spot soon and riot control force was called in. 

The BJP took out a protest on the island today, with party workers accusing the Trinamool Congress government of foisting false cases against them.

The nondescript island in North 24 Parganas made national headlines after residents accused local Trinamool leaders, led by strongman Sheikh Shahjahan, of land grab, extortion and sexual harassment. Shahjahan, now expelled by Trinamool, is in CBI’s custody in connection with a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate officials.

In a shocking twist earlier last month, a viral video showed local BJP leader Gangadhar Koyal purportedly saying that no rapes or sexual harassment took place in Sandeshkhali and that women were convinced to file complaints on the instruction of BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari, leader of Opposition in Bengal Assembly. The BJP and the leader in the video have claimed that the clip was doctored.

In another shock development, a woman has alleged that people linked with the BJP made her sign a blank paper and then wrote a false rape complaint in her name.

The developments have sparked a political slugfest, with the Trinamool accusing the BJP of cooking up stories to malign its image for political gains.

BJP workers today staged a protest outside the local police station and demanded action against local Trinamool leaders, who they alleged were spreading fake videos. Among the protesters was BJP’s candidate from Basirhat, Sandeshkhali resident Rekha Patra.

Speaking to the media, a woman BJP supporter accused the local administration of filing false cases against BJP supporters. “The Trinamool government is harassing us because the ground is slipping from under their feet.”

Responding to allegations that the BJP paid women to make sexual harassment allegations, she said, “Did Mamata Banerjee come here even once and see anyone paying us? The mothers of Sandeshkhali have hit the streets for their honour.”

Another woman protester targeted the woman who has accused that BJP leaders filed a false rape complaint in her name. “How much money have they got to claim that everything is a lie? They should be arrested, otherwise the people won’t spare them.”

Trinamool MLA Sukumar Mahata, whose aide was assaulted, has said someone must have instigated the attack. “They had gheraoed the police station. Then they were instigated to attack. Is this political decency?” he told the local media. Visuals show women surrounding the Trinamool MLA’s aide.  

Local BJP leader Sajal Ghosh has said there was no law in Sandeskhali for 12 years. “Till today, Trinamool beat up whoever they wanted. Three of our workers were shot dead, their bodies were not found. So today’s incident cannot be called unfortunate,” he told the media.

Kolkata:

In another twist to the Sandeskhali row, a woman has alleged that people linked with the BJP made her sign a blank paper and then wrote a false rape complaint in her name. The development has intensified the political blame game between the ruling Trinamool and the BJP, which has been playing up the Sandeshkhali issue in the election season.

Speaking to the media, a Sandeshkhali resident said that the day a team of the National Commission for Women visited the island, a woman named Piyali called them to share their complaints. “I told them that we had not received money as part of the 100 days’ job scheme. I only wanted that money and had no other complaint. No rape happened. She (Piyali) made us sign on a blank sheet,” the woman said, adding that she later came to know that she is on the list of women who alleged rape by local Trinamool leaders.

The woman’s daughters-in-law accused Piyali of defaming Sandeshkhali. “She is an outsider, she has come from somewhere else and talks big. We don’t know how she has information about everyone here. Initially, she would just take part in the protests here. We later came to know she is with the BJP. She should be punished for lying to us and trapping us. I’m sure more people were deceived like this,” they said. The woman and her family said they are now receiving threats for coming out against Piyali.

The Trinamool Congress, which was on the backfoot after local party leaders were accused of rape, land grab and extortion, has latched on to the woman’s allegations and accused the BJP of cooking up stories to malign the ruling party for political gains.

Trinamool MP Sushmita Dev alleged that the BJP is threatening the “courageous women of Sandeshkhali for daring to speak out against them”. “How much longer will this party persist in spinning webs of deceit, shamelessly trampling on the dignity of our mothers and sisters for their own political greed?” she asked.

The BJP hit back, describing Trinamool’s allegations as a damage control exercise that has come too late. Party spokesperson Priyanka Tibrewal said the Trinamool must understand that there is no use crying over spilt milk. “Why is Trinamool responding now? Why were they quiet for two-three months. They earlier said the women (of Sandeshkhali) were lying, now they are saying they were made to lie. Whatever damage had to happen has happened. There is no smoke without fire,” she told NDTV.

The Trinamool Congress has now registered a complaint with the Election Commission against several BJP leaders, including Suvendu Adhikari, Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly, accusing them of levelling fabricated allegations in the Sandeshkhali matter.

The nondescript island in North 24 Parganas made headlines in February when local residents accused strongman Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides of harassing them. Shahjahan, now expelled by the Trinamool Congress, was arrested after he was on the run for over a month in a case relating to a mob attack on Enforcement Directorate officials probing him. He is now in the CBI’s custody.

In a shocking twist in the Sandeskhali row last week, a video of a local BJP leader started doing the rounds. The video showed Gangadhar Koyal purportedly admitting that no rapes or sexual harassment took place in Sandeshkhali and that women were convinced to file such complaints at the directions of Mr Adhikari.

The BJP and the leader in the video have claimed that the clip was doctored and his voice edited. A police complaint has also been filed.