Prime Minister Narendra Modi launched a blistering attack on Mamata Banerjee's Trinamool Congress on the Sandeshkhali issue during a rally in West Bengal.
"The entire country is enraged and angry over what the TMC did with our sisters in Sandeshkhali. I can say that the soul of Raja Ram Mohan Roy must be weeping after witnessing what happened in Sandeshkhali," PM Modi said in Aramgarh.
Referring to the main accused Shahjahan Sheikh, PM Modi said that "a TMC leader crossed all limits" in the West Bengal village.
"The BJP leaders in the state fought for the respect and dignity of the women here. Yesterday, the police had to arrest him," he added.
Earlier, Shahjahan Sheikh was arrested after being on the run for nearly two months. He was later suspended by TMC.
Sandeshkhali has witnessed violent protests over the allegations of sexual harassment, sparking a fierce political showdown in West Bengal.
Police said that over 100 complaints were registered against Sheikh over the last few weeks, which saw violent protests led by women demanding his arrest.
He has been booked under IPC sections 376D (gang rape) and 307 (attempt to murder), they said. He has been booked under IPC sections 376D (gang rape) and 307 (attempt to murder), they said.
Sheikh's close aides Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar were earlier arrested on similar charges. His another associate, Ajit Maiti, was held in connection with the allegations of land grabbing. His another associate, Ajit Maiti, was held in connection with the allegations of land grabbing.
Police said most of the complainants claimed that Shajahan forcibly took over land from the people, and tortured the women of the area. Sheikh was at large since an ED team that went to raid his house in connection with the alleged ration scam was attacked by a mob of around 1,000 people on January 5. Sheikh was at large since an ED team that went to raid his house in connection with the alleged ration scam was attacked by a mob of around 1,000 people on January 5.
(With inputs from agencies)
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