Sandeskhali row: Victim takes U-turn, withdraws assault charges against TMC leaders
Sandeskhali row: In another twist, a Sandeskhali woman withdrew her sexual assault case against Trinamool Congress leaders, alleging that BJP supporters forced her to sign a blank piece of paper and subsequently filed a fake rape complaint in her name.
The development has fueled the political blame game between the ruling Trinamool and the BJP, which has emphasised the Sandeshkhali issue during the election season.
Speaking to the media, a Sandeshkhali resident stated that on the day a delegation from the National Commission for Women visited the island, a woman named Piyali called them to share their concerns. "I told them that we had not received payment as part of the 100-day work scheme. I merely wanted the money and had no other complaints. No rape took place She (Piyali) made us sign on a blank sheet," the woman said, adding that she later found out that she is on a list of women who have accused local Trinamool politicians of sexual assault.
The woman's daughters-in-law accused Piyali of defaming Sandeshkhali and said "She is an outsider; she has come from somewhere else and talks big. We are not sure how she knows so much about everyone here. Initially, she would only participate in the protests here. We then learned that she is linked with the BJP. She should be held accountable for lying to us and trapping us. I'm sure more people were duped like this," they stated. The woman and her family claimed they are now receiving threats for speaking out against Piyali
Meanwhile, TMC has seized on the woman's claims, accusing the BJP of fabricating stories to malign the ruling party for political benefit.
Trinamool MP Sushmita Dev claimed that the BJP is pressuring the "courageous women of Sandeshkhali for daring to speak out against them". "How much longer will this party persist in spinning webs of deceit, shamelessly trampling on the dignity of our mothers and sisters for their own political greed?" she said.
The Trinamool Congress has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against several BJP politicians, including Leader of the Opposition in the Assembly Suvendu Adhikari, accusing them of making false claims in the Sandeshkhali case.
- With inputs from agencies
