Roving Periscope: WB Governor Bose’s 72-hour deadline to Mamata for Shahjahan’s arrest, or else…
Virendra Pandit
New Delhi: West Bengal is hotting up for a possible President’s Rule.
Last week, Rekha Sharma, Chairperson of the National Commission for Women (NCW), after visiting the controversial battleground of Sandeshkhali in West Bengal, hinted that she could recommend the President’s Rule in the restive state.
On Tuesday, more developments indicate this possibility.
With the sensational women-led revolt in Sandeshkhali emerging as the key issue ahead of the Lok Sabha elections and the Calcutta High Court clearing the way, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Tuesday gave an ultimatum to the Mamata Banerji Government to arrest the main accused within 72 hours or else he—the Governor—would shift base to ground zero itself.
Appointed in November 2022 as the Governor, Bose also asked the state government to prepare an action plan for the rehabilitation of Sandeshkhali women who have accused Sheikh Shahjahan, a local Trinamool thug, and his accomplices, of sexual assault, land-grabbing, and other crimes, the media reported.
According to reports, soon after visiting Sandeshkhali, Bose left for New Delhi where he will stay not at Banga Bhavan but at a central government guest house.
The police have so far arrested two of Shahjahan’s accomplices.
On Tuesday, Bose upped the pressure on Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her government, declaring he would “shift base” to Sandeshkhali if Sheikh Shahjahan, the main accused in sexual assault and land grab allegations, is not arrested within 72 hours.
Earlier, the ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders had said the accused would be arrested “within seven days.” The governor’s time limit slashes the one the ruling party set for itself.
“I have written to the state government and given a deadline of 72 hours for the arrest of the main culprit. I will shift my base to Sandeshkhali if the arrest is not made…,” Bose told NDTV.
The Governor also demanded the state prepare an action plan for the rehabilitation of Sandeshkhali women who have accused Shahjahan, a local Trinamool strongman, of sexual assault.
Last week, he had told the media that “women in numbers” had met and told him of the harassment they faced. “They said they were molested, harassed, and intimidated… their husbands were beaten up,” he said, adding he had sent written complaints to the state government.
“I am very clear the government has to do justice. That is what is expected of a government, nothing more, nothing less,” he said, demanding “perceptible action” by the Chief Minister.
“I have made it clear this criminal has to be arrested. I am waiting for the day…” he said earlier.
Governor Bose’s ultimatum came after the Calcutta High Court responded to Trinamool MP Abhishek Banerjee’s claim—that the state couldn’t arrest Shahjahan because the judiciary had “tied” the police’s hands.
“I want to put this on record… Trinamool is not guarding Shahjahan. Judiciary is. Lift the stay and see what the police does,” Abhishek said, hitting back at such allegations by the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party.
The court replied, in no uncertain terms, that Shahjahan “obviously needs to be arrested.”
“We clarify there is no stay on arrest in any proceeding. There is only a first information report and he (Shahjahan) has been named as an accused. He is absconding,” the High Court said.
In response, senior Trinamool leader Kunal Ghosh declared the Sandeshkhali strongman would be arrested “within seven days.” “Thanks to the High Court… for clarifying this matter…” he said on X.
Shahjahan is at the center of a huge row that erupted on the river island of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district, where locals have accused him and his aides of land grab, extortion, and harassment and charged the police with doing nothing against him because of the TMC leadership’s protection.
Allegations of sexual violence have also been made against Shahjahan, who went missing after a mob of his supporters attacked an Enforcement Directorate team last month.
