Civil society fact-finding committee members arrested by police in West Bengal

A civil society fact-finding committee, comprising prominent figures such as former Chief Justice L Narasimha Reddy and former IPS officer Raj Pal Singh, faced obstruction from the police while en route to Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, on Sunday. The committee aimed to gather information about alleged human rights violations but was halted by police at Bhojerhat in South 24 Parganas district, approximately 70 km before Sandeshkhali. Following the confrontation, police arrested several committee members, citing illegal attempts to bypass police barricades.

Charu Wali Khanna, a member of the fact-finding committee, accused the government of obstructing their efforts to meet with victims, highlighting police interference and alleging deliberate attempts to impede their progress. The committee, formed to investigate incidents in Sandeshkhali, comprises individuals from diverse backgrounds, including former judicial and law enforcement officials, lawyers, and journalists. Meanwhile, in a separate incident, police arrested ISF leader Ayesha Bibi in Sandeshkhali over alleged involvement in the burning of poultry farms belonging to a local TMC leader, Shibaprasad Hazra.