National Desk, 20th April: Amid ongoing unrest, a 10-member team from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) undertook a visit to the tumultuous Sandeshkhali village in West Bengal on April 20. The village, located in the North 24 Parganas district, has been gripped by a series of concerns, with peace remaining elusive.
The CBI team divided into two groups, with one segment personally visiting victims in the Sundarikhali area of Sandeshkhali to document their allegations. Simultaneously, the other portion engaged in discussions with local police officials at the Sandeshkhali Police Station.
An official, speaking to PTI, revealed that they interacted with villagers regarding reported crimes against women and instances of land-grabbing. “We are noting down their allegations,” the official stated, indicating the meticulous nature of the investigation.
The visit follows a directive from the Calcutta High Court, which mandated a CBI probe into the myriad allegations emerging from Sandeshkhali. The court has requested a detailed report on the matter.
It is noteworthy that the atmosphere in Sandeshkhali has been tense, with previous incidents exacerbating the situation. In January, an enraged mob attacked Enforcement Directorate (ED) officials during a search operation at the residence of Shajahan Sheikh, a now-suspended Trinamool Congress leader, in connection with an alleged ration scam case.