Police stop BJP delegation from visiting Sandeshkhali, leaders protest on highway
Sandeshkhali continues to boil even after the arrest of key-accused Shahjahan Sheikh, a Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) delegation which was on its way to Sandeshkhali was stopped by security forces at North 24 Parganas' Minakhan on Monday.
A BJP team consisting of 15 people, including state BJP's ST Morcha President Joyel Murmu, left for Sandeshkhali from Kolkata to talk to the tribal community in the conflict-ridden Sandeshkhali area. The police stopped them with a barricade on the Kolkata Basanti Highway near Malancha in Minakhan.
Even after some talks with police personnel, the delegation was not allowed to move forward. Hence the BJP leaders started protesting by sitting on the Kolkata Basanti Highway.
Pointing out the duplicity in treatment by the police, Joyel Murmu claimed that while a Trinamool meeting is underway in Sandeshkhali, they are being stopped by the police by enforcing Section 144.
«They have enforced Section 144 for us. Trinamool meeting is going on in Sandeshkhali where Section 144 was in force. Leaders and Ministers are visiting the place. But for us, they have enforced Section 144,» Murmu said.
Highlighting the importance of their visit, Murmu added, «There are adivasis, dalit families there (Sandeshkhali). Students could not take the Madhyamik (Class 10) examination there. There was Class 12 exam as well. Adivasi students did not take the exam. They want us to come here. They are complaining that the Trinamool has confiscated their land. That is why we are visiting Sandeshkhali but police
