Guv visits violence-hit Bengal distt; police form probe team

West Bengal governor CV Ananda Bose visited violence-hit Sandeshkhali village in North 24 Parganas district on Monday and met several women who have accused local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders of torture and exploitation, even as chief minister Mamata Banerjee asserted that no "troublemaker" would be spared.

- Tanmay Chatterjee and Saptarshi Das

In the evening, the state police formed a 10-member team led by a woman officer of DIG rank to look into the allegations of molestation and sexual assault. "The team will visit various localities from Tuesday. The villagers must meet these officers and lodge their complaints. We have received one complaint of molestation so far. There is no communal angle to the incidents," Sumit Kumar, DIG, Barasat range, said.

Sandeshkhali first hit the headlines on January 5 when an Enforcement Directorate (ED) team that went to raid the home of TMC leader Sheikh Shahjahan in connection with multiple crore public distribution scam was attacked by a mob that left three officials injured. Even as Shahjahan has evaded arrest, since February 7, villagers led by women in Sandeshkhali have held protests, demanding arrests of local TMC leaders, alleging harassment.