Sandeshkhali Case: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has created a dedicated e-mail ID for the victims of a land grab in Sandeshkhali, a village in West Bengal, officials said on Thursday. The e-mail address, sandeshkhali@cbi.gov.in, will help villagers in Sandeshkhali in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas to report instances of crimes against women, forcible land grabbing and other incidents.
This move follows a Calcutta High Court order directing a court-monitored CBI probe into allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali.
E-mail ID created in compliance with High Court order
"In pursuance to the order passed by the division bench of Calcutta High Court on April 10, 2024, the CBI has created a dedicated email in which complaints of persons of Sandeshkhali regarding crimes against women and forcible grabbing of land may be lodged," he said.
The court has urged the North 24 Parganas district magistrate to publicise the email ID extensively within the locality and issue a public notice in vernacular newspapers with wide circulation, the official added. "The District Magistrate, North 24 Parganas has also been requested to give adequate publicity of the said e-mail ID in the locality and also issue a public notice in the vernacular dailies having a wide circulation in the areas as per the Hon'ble High Court's order," a CBI spokesperson said in a statement.
As per the sources, the central agency will start registering cases on the basis of the complaints received by it.
Calcutta HC orders CBI probe
The Calcutta High Court on April 10 ordered a court-monitored CBI probe into allegations of crimes against women and land grabbing in Sandeshkhali, saying an "impartial inquiry" is required in the interest of justice and fair play.
The court also directed the CBI to file a comprehensive report on the alleged illegal conversion of agricultural land into water bodies for pisciculture, following a thorough examination of the revenue records and a physical inspection of the land in question.
The court set the next date of hearing for May 2 and instructed the central agency to submit a detailed report by then. Additionally, the state government was directed to extend full support to the CBI in its investigation.
It's worth noting that the CBI is already investigating three cases related to attacks on Enforcement Directorate officials in Sandeshkhali, allegedly incited by Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Shahjahan Sheikh.
