By Nava Thakuria*
The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) of India in its spot enquiry report revealed that the victims – villagers of Sandeshkhali in West Bengal – faced ‘assault, threat, sexual exploitation, land grabbing, and forced unpaid labour’ and hence many residents were compelled to seek livelihood outside their locality.
The NHRC report, released on April 13, 2024, in New Delhi, also stated that the atmosphere due to the atrocities by the alleged accused persons rendered the victims silent and reluctant to seek justice.
The report revealed several instances of atrocities inflicted upon the victims, which demonstrate, prima facie, that there was a violation of human rights due to negligence in the prevention of such violation or abatement thereof by the public servant. The report has been duly sent to the Chief Secretary and police chief of West Bengal ‘for submitting an action taken report within eight weeks on each of the recommendations’ and the NHRC has uploaded the enquiry report on its website for ‘wider dissemination of information’.
Mentionable is that the NHRC had taken suo motu cognizance of print and electronic media outlets on February 21, 2024, where many innocent and impoverished women were reported as having been harassed and sexually assaulted by a group of political persons in Sandeshkhali under North 24th Paragana. Because of this many local villagers started protesting for appropriate legal action against the perpetrators of horrific crimes ‘indulged by various goons and anti-social elements’, where the concerned administration failed to take appropriate legal actions. Considering the gravity of the situation, the NHRC deputed an investigation team for a spot enquiry in addition to calling for reports from the State government in Kolkata. The NHRC team also interacted with the Police and Administration at Sandeshkhali and requested for further information. But despite reminders, the NHRC said no reply was given to date. The following recommendations were given by the NHRC team:
- Reinstating trust in the rule of law and confidence in authorities
- Ensuring witness protection and redressal of grievances
- Counselling and Rehabilitation of Victims of sexual offences.
- Return of the land to the legitimate owners
- Impartial investigation of complaints by Central agencies
- Initiating Awareness programmes
- Operationalization of Nationwide Emergency Response System (NERS)
- Vocational training and creating employment opportunities;
- Reviving the land to make it suitable for agriculture-
- Improving Socioeconomic indicators and preparing area-specific plans
- Appointing Special Rapporteurs to periodically report on the situation in Sandeshkhali;
- Investigation of cases of missing women/ girls from the area of PS Sandeshkhali.
The Commission noted that this incident is also seized by the High Court of Judicature at Calcutta and decided to seek leave from the High Court to intervene in the matter.
The concerned West Bengal authorities informed that altogether 25 cases were registered (among which 7 cases were on alleged complaints of sexual offence against women) and 24 accused persons were arrested. Efforts continued to arrest all the absconding perpetrators of the crime.
However, the NHRC investigation team found that there is a need to uproot the fear of those criminals from the hearts of victims so that they can return to their normal lives along with their families and gain the confidence to live with dignity and pride. It asserted that it’s the duty of district authorities to take consistent measures to instil confidence in all the residents in general and victims in particular so that others, who have been victims of crimes, may come forward and file their complaints seeking justice.
*Senior journalist
