Ahead of the counting of votes on June 4, National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma wrote to Chief Election Commissioner Rajiv Kumar on Monday, seeking permission to visit Sandeshkhali and other parts of West Bengal amid reports of post-poll violence against women.
In a statement, the NCW Chairperson said, "There are recent reports in the media about the post-poll violence in Sandeshkhali and other parts of West Bengal concerning the high-handedness and police atrocities against the women. Keeping in view the seriousness of the matter, a team from the National Commission for Women (headed by the Chairperson) would like to visit Sandeshkhali and other parts of West Bengal to investigate and take necessary action."
The NCW also emphasised the urgency of addressing these reports, while highlighting its mandate to monitor and investigate issues related to the deprivation of women's rights and the non-implementation of protective laws.
It is pertinent to note that violence marred the final phase of Lok Sabha polls in Bengal, with a BJP worker being hacked to death by a group of men in Nadia district, as well as incidents of stone-pelting reported from Sandeshkhali, resulting in injuries to several people.
Earlier, elaborating on the violent incident in Sandeshkhali, a senior police official said local women in Agarhati village in the Sandeshkhali area got involved in a scuffle with the Rapid Action Force (RAF) personnel, felled tree trunks, and blocked roads when the police personnel reached there in search of a few persons accused of attacking them on Saturday night.
"We have not arrested anyone, but local women have started protesting. Some of our female colleagues are injured. We are trying to talk to them and remove the barricades from the roads," the officer in Basirhat Police District said. "There was an attempt by local women to snatch the detained person, but the move was foiled, he added.
Meanwhile, West Bengal Governor C V Ananda Bose on June 2 voiced his concerns over reports of post-poll violence in Sandeshkhali and called on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to intervene immediately to restore peace.
Speaking to the media, the Governor revealed that he has written to Banerjee, requesting information about the actions taken against those involved in the incidents in Sandeshkhali, located in North 24 Parganas district.
"I am a bit worried about the situation in Sandeshkhali. From the inputs I have received, I have come to know about incidents of attacks on the women of Sandeshkhali within hours after the polling was over yesterday. I have written to the Chief Minister about the steps taken in this regard," Bose stated.
Furthermore, the Governor added that he wants to know when the violence would cease and when the residents of Sandeshkhali would be able to live a “fearless life” like other citizens of India.
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