NHRC in Sandeshkhali, Commission sends notice to Chief Secretary, DGP

After the alleged incident of rape of Hindu women in Sandeshkhali came to light, the NHRC has also entered this whole issue.

Taking suo motu cognizance of the ongoing unrest in Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) has directed Chief Secretary B.P. Notice sent to Gopalika and acting DGP Rajeev Kumar and sought a detailed report from them in the matter within the next four weeks.

Sources said the notice has sought details from Gopalika and Kumar about the actions taken by the state government taking cognizance of the protests by local women who have accused some local Trinamool Congress workers of sexual harassment and violence.

It is learned that the Commission will also send a field inspection team to Sandeshkhali to review the situation there. Earlier on Wednesday, the National Commission for Scheduled Tribes (NCST) had also sent a similar notice to the Chief Secretary and the acting DGP, seeking a report on Sandeshkhali within the next three days.

The NHRC is the fifth central commission to directly intervene in the Sandeshkhali case after the NCST, National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC), National Commission for Women (NCW) and National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR). Political observers believe that the nature of the ongoing crisis in Sandeshkhali is so diverse that it has opened the way for multiple Central Commissions to intervene in the matter.

Since the main case pertains to allegations of sexual harassment, the NCW has taken the right step in this matter. Secondly, since many of the alleged victims – in both illegal land occupation and sexual harassment cases – are from SC and ST communities, both the NCSC and NCST have intervened. "Besides, the recent incident of an infant being snatched from its mother's lap and thrown carelessly has prompted the NCPCR to take action in the matter," said a city political observer.