In West Bengal’s Sandeshkhali village, one of the three women who accused Trinamool Congress functionaries of rape has withdrawn her complaint, citing coercion by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers.
The woman said that the rape complaint was false and lodged a new complaint at the Sandeshkhali police station, alleging threats following her decision to retract the accusation.
She claimed that BJP workers visited her home under the guise of enrolling her for a government housing scheme but coerced her into signing a blank paper.
“They asked for my signature on the pretext of enlisting my name for PMAY [Pradhan Mantri Awas Yojana scheme],” the woman told media. “Later, they took me to the police station to lodge a complaint of sexual abuse.”
Expressing distress over community ostracization allegedly orchestrated by BJP workers. “We are feeling unsafe, and I have sought police help,” she said.
However, a BJP women’s wing worker countered, alleging that the complainant, identified as the wife of a Trinamool Congress functionary, acted under the ruling party’s influence.
The BJP member accused the complainant and her husband of financial irregularities related to relief funds for cyclones Amphan and Bulbul.
“She and other women themselves narrated their plight to National Commission for Women Chairperson Rekha Sharma. The truth will come out when the CCTV footage from inside the police station is released,” she said.
Meanwhile, the Trinamool Congress released a video purportedly showing a BJP leader admitting to filing sexual harassment complaints at the behest of Suvendu Adhikari, a BJP leader. The Trinamool Congress filed a complaint with the Election Commission against Adhikari, citing his alleged confession on camera.
In the video, BJP’s Sandeshkhali unit chief Gangadhar Kayl, or Koyal, can be heard saying: “We got it done [complaints of sexual harassment in Sandeshkhali] as per instructions of Suvendu da [Suvendu Adhikari], he helped us. Suvendu da said if you do not do this, then you would not be able to get the strong people arrested and sustain yourself.”
The Sandeshkhali case has garnered attention since early January when Enforcement Directorate officials were allegedly attacked during raids at a suspended Trinamool Congress leader’s residence. Several women accused Trinamool Congress functionaries of sexual harassment and land grabbing.
The Central Bureau of Investigation registered an FIR on April 25 to investigate allegations of land grabbing and sexual harassment.
