Sandeshkhali erupts in violence following elections; section 144 imposed

Sandeshkhali remains in turmoil following the conclusion of voting, with violent incidents persisting into the next day. On Saturday, women took to the streets protesting police arrests in Sandeshkhali, particularly in Mandalpara of Sarberia-Agarhati Gram Panchayat. State police and central forces, conducting door-to-door searches, arrested a youth during the voting process. The following day, women demonstrated outside the Rajbari police camp of Nejat police station, demanding the youth's release, which led to alleged police lathi charges. The situation escalated as protesters began throwing bricks, injuring several policemen, including one with a fractured head.

The police initiated an investigation on Saturday night, arresting five individuals during overnight searches. Tensions flared again on Sunday morning in Mandalpara, prompting police, BAF, and central forces to revisit the village. Women protested the house-to-house searches, claiming the police were targeting innocent villagers instead of the Trinamool miscreants responsible for the election-day violence. In response to the escalating unrest, the administration reimposed Section 144 in many areas of Sandeshkhali, with restrictions set to remain until 6 am on Tuesday.