Calcutta High Court orders CBI investigation into Sandeshkhali violence
What's the story
The Calcutta High Court has ordered a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into allegations of extortion, land grabbing, and sexual assault in Sandeshkhali, West Bengal.
The probe by the central agency will be monitored by the court, it added.
The CBI has further been instructed to submit a report on the unlawful transformation of farmland for fish farming on May 2.
Context
Why does this story matter?
Sandeshkhali, situated in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, has been experiencing political unrest for the past two months.
At the center of the unrest are suspended Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his supporters, who have been accused of sexually assaulting women and grabbing land.
Last week, the court heard a batch of petitions asking external agencies to investigate the many disturbing allegations on the island of Sandeshkhali.
Court
Even if 1% true, 100% shameful": High court
At the hearing seeking probes into the allegations of extortion, land grabbing, and sexual assault, Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's government received a stern reprimand from the high court.
"Even if 1% is true it is absolutely shameful. West Bengal says it is safest for women?" the court told the Bengal government.
The court also slammed the counsel representing Sheikh Shahjahan, who was apprehended on February 29 after nearly two months of avoiding authorities.
Sheikh Shahjahan
Sheikh accused of masterminding attack on ED team
Shahjahan, who was on the run for 55 days before being apprehended in February, is presently in the custody of the Enforcement Directorate (ED) after the CBI questioned him for several days on the directions of the high court.
He was arrested on suspicion of masterminding an attack on an ED team who raided his residence on January 5 in connection with the public distribution system (PDS) case.
The CBI is looking into this case as well.