KOLKATA: The Calcutta High Court has taken suo motu cognizance of the Sandeskhali incident in West Bengal wherein ladies were sexually assaulted at gunpoints and tribal lands were taken away in violation of prevailing laws.
A single judge bench of Justice Apurba Sinha Ray said that it was "grossly disappointed" on the news reports from Sandeshkhali in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
The development comes at the heels of Union Minister for Women and Child Development Smriti Irani stating in a media briefing that as per what the Sandeshkhali women had told reporters, they were chosen young Hindu married women.
Shocking statements were reportedly made by the offenders, including telling the husbands of the concerned women, "You may be the husband, but you have no rights (on these women)."
Taking note of news reports in Anandabazar Patrika, The Indian Express and other newspapers and electronic media which stated that not only were a good number of women assaulted at gunpoint, but "tribal lands were forcefully taken away" in the state under CM Mamata Banerjee's watch, the Calcutta High Court said it is "constrained to take suo motu cognizance".
It has issued notice to IG West Bengal Police, DIG (Barasat Range), SP and DM of North 24 Parganas, and listed the matter for further hearing on February 20.
The Court has also appointed Jayanta N Chattopadhyay as amicus in the matter.
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