JOINT MEMORANDUM TO NATIONAL COMMISSION FOR WOMEN
Date March 7, 2022
To,
Ms. Rekha Sharma,
Chairperson,
National Commission for Women
Subject:- Taking immediate steps against violence against women in West Bengal
Dear Rekhaji,
Women are facing an extremely insecure atmosphere with a threat to their lives and well being in West Bengal. The TMC ruling party activists have unleashed a reign of terror and brutality against women. The administration and the police are either silent spectators when such violence is taking place or are conniving with the perpetrators of such crimes. In some cases they have also perpetrated the atrocities. Male police personnel have misbehaved and molested protesting women. False cases are being lodged and activists are being sent to jail. Women were targeted during the recent municipal elections. The National Commission for Women must urgently take steps to put a stop to these brutalities and come forward to protect the rights of women in West Bengal.
The undersigned women’s organisations, request the National Commission for Women to take Suo Moto congnizance of the violence perpetrated on women activists, candidates and polling agents by the West Bengal Police and activists of the Trinamool Congress and to direct the state administration to take appropriate action against the perpetrators of these crimes.
We are giving some incidents of atrocities and brutality on which the NCW should take immediate action.
- The Illegal Arrest and Alleged Assault of DYFI State President, Minakshi Mukherjee:
Minakshi Mukherjee, the State President of the Democratic Youth Federation of India was leading a peaceful protest against the murder of Anis Khan on 26 February 2022. The peaceful protestors were attacked by the police, most of whom were male police, and were detained illegally. Along with 16 others, Minakashi Mukherjee were sent to jail. She has been physically assaulted in custody. The state government is protecting the killers as allegedly they are supporters of the ruling regime. We demand that the NCW intervenes to see that all false cases are withdrawn immediately.
- Atrocities Against Women in Municipal Council Elections:
We want to bring the following incidents to the attention of the NCW:
District North 24 Parganas
- Basirhat Ward No 19: Polling agent Anwara Bibi was beaten up brutally by goons of the TMC. She was threatened with murder and rape and her house was attacked. She called the police for protection but no protection came forth. She has now left her home because she has been threatened by the TMC that if she returns, she will be killed.
- New Barackpore: Candidates Sandhya Mukherjee, Sayeli Majumder, Sushmita Dutta, Ila Guha, Mithu Das, Anita Acharya, Keka Banerjee, Bula Dutta, Sumita Dutta, Purnima Dutta, Baby Dutta, Bandana Dutta, Swapna Guha were attacked brutally by goons. They were pinned down on the floor, kicked, punched, slapped and attacked by bricks and stones. Candidates Rituparna Biswas, Swapna Biswas and Ananya Biswas were attacked because they oppossed the illegal practices of the TMC in polling booths. In Ward Number 11, Soma Dey was repeatedly threatened, but she bravely withstood this terror and did not leave the booth.
- Berlin Wall Ward Number 18 : The polling agent of candidate Uma Dey, was attacked and his nose was broken; despite this he did not leave the booth and stopped election malpractices.
- South Dumdum Municipality Ward 31: Candidate Soma Das Chakraborty, AIDWA state assistant secretary was beaten up brutally. She received several injuries all over her body. Further, previous councillor Aatrayee Guha, AIDWA state assistant secretary and the polling agent was tortured while trying to protect the EVM when the goons were attempting to press the TMC button illegally. Her back was pierced with the nib of a pen and she bled profusely. Candidate Atashi Chakraborty was physically assaulted, kicked and punched. Another activist, Archana Ghosh was brutally beaten up, and her eyes were badly injured.
District Hooghly
- Konnagar Ward Number 112: Candidate Kalpana Bagchi was surrounded by goons and attacked by the police when she tried to oppose the TMC’s illegal practices during voting. The police forced her out of the booth when she opposed these practices.
- Chunchura Ward No 4: Candidate Shyamali Chakraborty was threatened and beaten . She filed an FIR with the police but no action was taken.
District South 24 Parganas
- Sonarpur: Ruma Bural was threatened by TMC goons. She, her husband and son were brutally beaten for acting as poll agents.
District Bankura
- Ex Chairperson of the Municipality and candidate Siuli Midya, was threatened when she opposed illegal voting by the TMC. She did not move from her position and the goons were forced to retreat.
District East Burdwan
- Kalna municipal election: Women candidates and poll booth agents of the Left Front were attacked by TMC activists. The names of the candidates are a) Ward Number 16 candidate Radha Mukherjee; b) Ward Number 4 candidate Mridula Roy; c) Ward No 11 candidate Falguni Mallick; d) Ward No 11 election agents Anisha Banerjee and Dipasree Chatterjee; 5) Ward No 8 candidate Piyali Mukherjee. All these candidates and agents were beaten and molested; they were also threatened with rape. In Ward No 1, the nomination of Left Front nominee Maniprabha Bhaduri was cancelled.
- Sadore Ward 26: Kadera Bibi, was put under house arrest by TMC activists before the election to prevent her from election work.
District Howrah
- Uluberia Municipality: The following women candidates were violently attacked: 1) Ward No 13, Tanusree Giri ; 2) Ward No 23, Rehana Sultana; 3) Ward No 5, Sathi Jana; 4) Ward No 9, Kakali Dey.
Other Incidents
- Police committed atrocities and sexual assault on the women protesters of AIPWA at the Narendrapur P.S.
- The internecine feud between TMC in Burdwan district took the life of Tuhina Khatun. She herself was an active TMC member but committed suicide after severe harassment and threats to her and her family by the elected TMC councillor of ward no. 27 Md. Bashir.
- Adivasi women protesters of Deocha-Pachami in Birbhum district were brutally beaten by the police personnel for raising their voice against the proposed open pit coal mine there.
This list is endless. We have given only a few instances to point out the dangerous situation prevailing in West Bengal. Due to this recurring violence and threats, women are denied the opportunity to participate in public activities. The above instances clearly show the abuse of power by the ruling TMC in West Bengal. We do hope the NCW will take up this issue of injustice meted out to women in West Bengal urgently.
All India Democratic Women’s Association – Malini Bhattacharya, Mariam Dhawale
National Federation of Indian Women – Aruna Roy, Annie Raja
All India Progressive Women’s Association – Kavita Krishnan
