Calcutta HC orders to add Shahjahan Sheikh to Sandeshkhali case, says “no reason not to arrest him”

Kolkata: The Calcutta High Court Chief Justice on Monday ordered to add Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan to the Sandeshkhali case.

The HC Justice asked to issue a notice in the case and said, “There is no reason to not arrest him.”

“Public notice shall be given in this case. There is no stay order in Sandeshkhali cases. There is no reason to not arrest him,” the Court said.

Amid tensions over the Sandeshkhali incident, West Bengal Governor CV Ananda Bose on Monday said that the Governor’s job is to see when the elected government takes action within the rule of law. If that is not done, then the governor will intervene.

“As we know from the newspaper reports, the Police came there, ministers went there, and petitions were received. From what I understand from the newspapers, more than 800 petitions have been received. The process has started, women have come forward, they have started asserting themselves, and now there will be a change…Generals may not fight, they make others fight. The Governor’s job is to see when the elected government takes action within the rule of law. If that is not done, then the Governor will intervene,” he said.

Terming the decision by the Calcutta High Court Chief Justice on Sheikh Shahjahan, as momentous, the Governor added, that there is no excuse for not arresting Sheikh Shahjahan and he will be arrested.

“That is a momentous statement or a decision given by the high court, which means the culprit has to be arrested, there is no excuse for not arresting him, he will be arrested; he should be arrested,” he said.

In the Sandeshkhali violence, a poultry farm, houses, and offices were vandalised and set on fire. CPIM’s ex-MLA Nirapada Sardar and BJP leader Vikas Singh were arrested in the suo moto case filed by the police.

Sandeshkhali has been on the boil for a few days as a section of women are seeking justice against alleged atrocities committed by TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his aides.

A large number of women in Sandeshkhali had accused Trinamool Congress strongman Shajahan Sheikh and his supporters of “land-grab and sexual assault” under coercion. Shahjahan continues to evade arrest, with both state police and central agencies unable to trace him.