'Tortured' women from Sandeshkhali meet PM, seek justice
Barasat (WB), Mar 6 (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday met a group of women from Sandeshkhali, where allegations of sexual abuse against TMC leaders have been levelled.
The women expressed their happiness for meeting the prime minister and said they requested him to ensure that the women of Sandeshkhali get justice.
Modi met them following a public rally at Barasat in North 24 Parganas district where Sandeshkhali is located.
"After the public meeting, the prime minister met a few women from Sandeshkhali. The women spoke about the atrocities they had faced," BJP state general secretary Agnimitra Paul told PTI over the phone.
BJP sources said the women became emotional while narrating their ordeal to the PM who heard them patiently "like a father figure".
He understood their pain, sources said.
Later while speaking to reporters, one of the women from Sandeshkhali said the prime minister gave them a patient hearing as they sought justice from him.
"We requested him to ensure that we get justice as we don't have faith in the state administration. The prime minister, despite his busy schedule, gave us a patient hearing. We narrated our ordeal to him. We hope we will get justice," a women protestor said.
The riverine island of Sandeshkhali in North 24 Parganas district has been on the boil over allegations of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing by suspended TMC leader Shajahan Sheikh and his cohorts.
Modi on Wednesday intensified his criticism of the TMC on the issue of atrocities against women, as he asserted that the "storm of Sandeshkhali" would echo throughout West Bengal, emphasizing that 'Nari Shakti' (woman power) would decimate the TMC in the upcoming Lok Sabha elections in the state.
Addressing a rally in Barasat, the headquarters of North 24-Parganas district, where Sandeshkhali is located, Modi condemned the incidents of violence against women, stating, "Whatever has happened with the women in Sandeshkhali is a matter of shame."
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4 workers die after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad
Dhanbad (Jharkhand) (PTI): At least four workers died after being buried under coal slurry in Jharkhand's Dhanbad district on Saturday, a police official said.
The incident took place at Moonidih coal washery in the command area of Bharat Coking Coal Limited (BCCL).
"Bodies of all four workers were dug out of debris during a rescue operation," Putki police station in-charge Waqar Hussain told PTI.
The incident took place when coal slurry was being loaded into trucks by workers, during which a large chunk of slurry fell and trapped several workers underneath, officials said.
The deceased have been identified as Manik Bauri, Dinesh Bauri, Deepak Bauri, and Hemlal Gope.
Meanwhile, the family members of the deceased and local villagers placed the bodies in front of the washery gate and began a protest.
They demanded compensation, jobs for dependents and action against those responsible for the incident.
Police and administration officials are trying to pacify the protesters, an official said.
