'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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UP: Teen girl found hanging from tree; locals claim rape, murder
Pratapgarh (UP) (PTI): The body of a 19-year-old woman was found hanging from a tree in a village under the Manikpur police station area here on Sunday morning, police said.
According to the police, the woman had gone to sleep after dinner on Saturday night but was found hanging in an orchard nearly 400 metres away from her home the following morning.
Additional Superintendent of Police (West), Brijnandan Rai, stated that the circumstances suggest foul play.
"The victim's slippers and undergarments were recovered 50 metres away from the spot where the body was found. There are visible injury marks on her body," Rai said.
While locals have alleged that the woman was murdered after being raped, the ASP said that it is "prima facie a case of murder."
"Based on the complaint filed by the victim's brother, a case of murder has been registered against unidentified persons. The body has been sent for a post-mortem examination," the officer added.
Police further clarified that if the medical report confirms sexual assault, relevant sections will be added to the FIR.
Forensic experts and police teams have collected evidence from the spot and are investigating the matter from all angles.
