Tripura’s Chief Minister, Manik Saha, has ignited a political firestorm by suggesting that the reported incidents in West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali area are just the beginning, hinting at a broader pattern of problems across the state.
This assertion comes amid swirling controversy surrounding a sting video related to the Sandeshkhali case. In the video, several women accuse former TMC leader Sheikh Shajahan and his associates of land grabbing and sexual assault. Shajahan is currently behind bars for an attack on an Enforcement Directorate team.
However, a twist emerged when a local channel aired a video featuring a man claiming to be a BJP worker, alleging that the accusers were falsely portrayed as rape victims on the advice of Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari to facilitate Shajahan’s arrest. The authenticity of the clip remains unverified.
BJP’s West Bengal unit president Sukanta Majumdar has accused the TMC of using such videos to “mislead people,” juxtaposing them with victim statements recorded under Section 164 of the CrPC before a magistrate.
The Sandeshkhali imbroglio has reignited the political rivalry between the TMC and BJP, injecting fresh tension into the political landscape ahead of the upcoming panchayat polls in the state.