2 Sandeshkhali Women Withdraw Rape Complaint, Allege Coercion by People Linked To BJP

Kolkata: A woman and her mother-in-law from Sandeshkhali, West Bengal, have withdrawn their rape complaints against Trinamool Congress leaders. They have alleged that they were forced to sign “white papers” at the behest of the National Commission for Women (NCW).

The withdrawal of complaints comes days after a purported video surfaced on social media, showing a BJP worker claiming the party’s involvement in the Sandeshkhali incident.

Speaking to the media, the woman narrated how she and her mother-in-law were coerced into filing false rape complaints without even knowing the contents of the complaint, allegedly at the behest of “Delhi’s Women’s Commission.”

Subsequently, they lodged a fresh complaint citing threats and social isolation for retracting their accusations against TMC leaders.

The duo recorded their statement before a magistrate, expressing their desire to disassociate from false complaints. The woman recounted an incident where her mother-in-law was taken to the police station by two individuals, later realizing they were listed among those alleging rape by local TMC figures, despite no such occurrence.

Sandeshkhali gained attention due to protests against TMC leader Shahjahan Sheikh and associates, accusing them of land grabs and sexual harassment.

In response, the TMC has filed a complaint with the Election Commission against BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari and others, citing a confession by a BJP leader that the rape allegations were fabricated.