West Bengal Police detained independent fact-finding team en route to Sandeshkhali, later released

An independent fact-finding team led by former Chief Justice of Patna High Court L Narasimha Reddy was detained on Sunday while attempting to investigate alleged atrocities on women and land grabbing in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district.

The six-member team comprised, former IPS officer Raj Pal Singh, former National Commission for Women member Charu Wali Khanna, advocates O P Vyas and Bhavna Bajaj, and senior journalist Sanjeev Nayak. They were stopped by police near Sandeshkhali, where several women have accused local Trinamool Congress leader Sheikh Shahjahan and his supporters of sexual assault. The team also aimed to investigate allegations of land grabbing by Trinamool leaders for fish farms.

Why did Police detain the fact-finding team?

Police cited Section 144 CrPC, which prohibits assembly of more than four people in certain areas, for detaining the team. However, Reddy and other members contested the action and said that they were denied access despite adhering to the regulation.

"This is completely illegal," said Reddy. "We were prepared to follow the rules and enter in small groups. What are they trying to hide?"

Charu Wali Khanna, a former National Commission for Women member, called the detention "murder of democracy." 

BJP fact-finding team was stopped

This incident follows a similar one involving a BJP fact-finding team earlier this month. A few days ago, BJP had sent a team consisting of  Union minister Annapurna Devi, Pratima Bhowmik, MP Sunita Duggal, Kavita Patidar, Sangeeta Yadav, and Rajya Sabha member and former director general of police of Uttar Pradesh Brij Lal, who were stopped by police.