Calcutta High Court takes suo motu cognisance of alleged sexual assault of women at gunpoint in Sandeshkhali

The Calcutta High Court on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance of reports that women in Sandeshkhali village of 24 Paraganas district in West Bengal were subjected to sexual assault "at gunpoint" and that tribal lands were being forcibly taken away from villagers. [The Court’s on its Own Motion Vs. State of West Bengal]..Justice Apurpa Sinha Ray recorded that he was “grossly disappointed” after examining news reports that indicated that “good numbers of ladies in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas have been sexually assaulted at gun points.”“Considering all the aspects I am constrained to take suo moto cognizance over the alleged incidents in respect of only the allegation of sexual assaults of ladies in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas at gun points and transfer of lands of tribal people in violation of relevant laws,” the Court said.The Court appointed advocate Jayanta Narayan Chattopadhyay to assist the Court as an amicus curiae and posted the matter for further hearing on February 20..As per reports, at least three Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) leaders, Sheikh Shajahan, Shiba Prasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar are alleged to have been involved in the land grabbing activities and the torture of villagers in Sandeshkhali.These allegations also fell under the scanner of another judge of the High Court, Justice Jay Sengupta on Tuesday, when he quashed an order issued by the district administration under Section 144 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) which restricted the movement of people in Sandeshkali.The Court was told that the TMC leaders were forcibly taking over agricultural land in the village and forcing villagers into labour without the proper payment of wages. Further, the Court was told that the miscreants would also sexually exploit women in the village in their offices at night.The situation in the village deteriorated over the last couple of days with villagers carrying out protests in front of police stations and even setting fire to property belonging to Uttam Sardar, who was said to have been placed under arrest after media pressure.“The atrocities on the villagers by three prime miscreants belonging to the ruling political dispensation, as alleged, are absolutely repulsive and heart wrenching,” Justice Sengupta observed in his order..Meanwhile, Advocate General Kishore Datta informed the Court of steps being taken to allay the tensions in Sandeshkhali including the appointment of an officer in the rank of DIG, CID to receive complaints from the villagers. He also defended the imposition of the Section 144order in the area.The Court, however, observed that merely deputing such an officer to receive complaints would not suffice and that the police needs to address the issues with better care and circumspection.The Court proceeded to hold that Section 144 order was not warranted and could even leave the villagers more vulnerable to further atrocities.“Non-arresting of the prime miscreants and their accomplices coupled with restriction on free movement of the villagers, at least in terms of Section 144 of the Code, may pose undue harassment to the inhabitants of the area and make them more vulnerable to further atrocities, especially in view of the peculiar geography of the place,” the Court said..Justice Sengupta added that the Section 144 order was promulgated on “bald and ritualistic” references to a possibility of a breach of peace.“Such promulgation has to be done by exercising more care and circumspection and surely, with a better reasoning. After all we are dealing with the rights of the citizens of the country. Even on facts, no material has been placed before this Court to justify as to why the entire area under the Sandeskhali Police Station should be covered under an order passed in terms of 144,” the Court observed before setting aside the Section 144 order..The Court added that instead of imposing restrictions on the movement of villagers, the State may do well to arrest the alleged perpetrators of the atrocities in Sandeshkhali village to inspire the confidence of the villagers.“Instead of exhausting all their efforts to quell protests by, at best lathi-weilding village women, the police authorities need to fix their priorities better and look for the two alleged prime perpetrators of crime. Only if they are hauled up, can the tortured women of the village muster enough courage to lodge all their complaints,” the order said..The Court also criticised the internet ban imposed in the area although he noted that the said ban was "fortunately" lifted later on. "One wonders what could the purpose of restricting the internet in this area. However, fortunately the ban has been lifted from mid night, yesterday," the Court said. Justice Sen Gupta proceeded to dispose of the matter while urging the State police to keep a vigil over the area by deploying more armed personnel and through the use of technology like drones..[Read Orders]