All India Bar Association Cautions About President's Rule In West Bengal On Incidents Of Violence Against Women Of Sandeshkhali
All India Bar Association (AIBA) has written to West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee cautioning about demands of a President’s Rule in the state after it witnessed horrific incidents of sexual assault and violence in Sandeshkhali.
AIBA Chairman and Senior Advocate Dr. Adish Aggarwala has also condemned the incident and the alleged lackadaisical approach of the West Bengal Police and authorities in not nabbing the culprits and a sketchy probe.
"We are pained to hear about the horrifc testimonies of the victims of Sandeshkhali and have demanded swift action in the matter. We have also cautioned the Chief Minister that she shall ensure that the State doesn't turn into "Jungle Raj" else we will have to demand for President's Rule," said Dr. Aggarwala, who is also the President of the Supreme Court Bar Association.
The letter written to the Chief Minister of West Bengal by the AIBA condemed the incident. "The reports of atrocities with the women in West Bengal's Sandeshkhali has left the nation in shock and immense grief. The testimonies of the victims as recorded by statutory bodies like the National Commission for Women have revealed horrors that the women have faced in forms of sexual assault and violence," the letter read.
"We feel immense pain and grief about the women and want that justice is served to them. You, being the Chief Minister of the State shall look into the matter immediately and shall ensure that those involved in these heinous acts shall be put to face the law," the letter added.
The Supreme Court is set to hear today a PIL seeking transfer of investigation into the alleged large-scale violence against women in Sandeshkhali in West Bengal to the CBI or a SIT.
Earlier, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) had taken cognizance of a distressing incident that reportedly occurred in Sandeshkhali, involving violence against a child. The NCPCR had written a letter to the District Magistrate of North 24-Parganas seeking an Action Taken Report about the incident within 48 hours.
The National Commission Women had issued a statement saying that testimonies of victims indicate widespread fear and systematic abuse (physical and sexual violence) by police officers and members of the Trinamool Congress, at Sandeshkhali.
The Calcutta High Court had taken suo moto cognizance of reported occurrences of sexual assaults against women in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas, and illicit transfer of tribal lands.