After being on the run for over 50 days, Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan, the main accused in the Sandeshkhali case, was arrested on February 29. Shahjahan and his aides have been accused of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.
The small island in the Sundarban delta in West Bengal’s North 24-Parganas district has been at the centre of BJP-Trinamool politics in the state.
Here’s what has been happening till now.
January 5: A team of the Enforcement Directorate went to raid the home of Sheikh Shahjahan. His supporters attacked the ED team and injured three officials. They also helped Shahjahan escape.
February 8: Some local women carrying brooms and sticks blocked the main road in Sandeshkhali. They demanded the immediate arrest of Shahjahan and his two aides, Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar.
February 9: Women protesters attacked Hazra’s properties and set fire to his poultry farm.
February 10: Uttam Sardar was arrested.
February 12: The allegations led to a war of words between the BJP and the Trinamool Congress. Union minister Smriti Irani claimed, “Hindu women were being raped in Sandeshkhali”.
February 13: A special ten-member female police team led by IPS Soma Das Mitra visited the village.
February 14: Lok Sabha Privileges Committee issued notices to several senior West Bengal officials on a complaint by BJP MP Sukanta Majumdar, alleging that he got injured when he was stopped by the state police from going to Sandeshkhali.
February 17: The police added charges of gangrape and attempted murder against Hazra and Sardar.
February 18: Shiba Prasad Hazra was arrested.
February 19: BJP MP Locket Chatterjee claimed that what happened to women in Sandeshkhali was a reminder of atrocities against women in countries like Iraq and Pakistan.
February 20: The Calcutta HC pulled up the West Bengal government, said it will ask Sheikh Shahjahan to surrender.
February 21: West Bengal DGP Rajeev Kumar said that police will listen to the complaints of every individual in Sandeshkhali and strict action will be taken against those found guilty.
February 22: Sandeshkhali residents liberated a children's park taken over by the Shahjahan gang.
February 23: Fresh protests erupted in Sandeshkhali as locals set fire to properties belonging to Trinamool leaders.
February 24: A Trinamool delegation comprising state ministers visited the village and assured people that they will get justice.
February 25: Trinamool general secretary Abhishek Banerjee said that the party was not shielding Shahjahan Sheikh. He said Sheikh had not been arrested because the Calcutta High Court had stayed the investigation against him.
February 26: The Calcutta High Court said Shahjahan should be arrested and clarified that there has been no stay directed on his arrest by the court.
February 27: West Bengal Governor CV Ananda asked the state government to file a report within 72 hours if they fail to nab Shahjahan.
February 28: Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said land belonging to tribals would not be taken away in any condition. The HC allowed senior BJP leader Suvendu Adhikari to visit the village.
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