According to the NCW, the lady from Sandeshkhali West Bengal was “compelled” to retract her complaint against a TMC member with respect to ongoing Lok Sabha Elections and it sought an electoral commission probe into the matter.
A number of videos that were allegedly published on Thursday by TMC are among those which purport to show women from Sandeshkhali, who claimed that local BJP leaders had made them sign blank papers that later became sexual assault cases.
The women in the alleged video have revealed that BJP worker Piyali Das asked them to present themselves physically at their local police station and narrate their stories to National Commission for Women (NCW) team members who were visiting San Deshkari as part of a mission to appraise the situation at grassroots level.
The ladies say they never had any intention of filing sexual assault cases but after blank documents were signed upon his request, they discovered that complaints alleging rape had been lodged in their names.
In a letter written by the women’s rights panel to EC, it requested for immediate investigation and further ensuring that women are not threatened by TMC workers so as withdraw complaints
“The committee notes that the women of Sandeshkhali were forced to withdraw their complaints against TMC workers as they were ruling party in West Bengal during 2024 general elections,” said women’s panel.
“TMC party workers are instilling fear in the women of Sandeshkhali to silence the victims from filing complaints that may affect fairness of electoral process in this district,” said NCW.
This is why the Commission has requested EC through staff threats not permit female complainants recanting for fear or risk withdrawal by resorting to intimidations since these might be used during investigations therefore intimidating other potential complainants.
In addition, Election Commission can issue necessary instructions if required.
In another group of videos released by TMC, these females wanted those charges dropped but also accused BJP of threats as well as money given to them after they expressed their willingness to reconsider.
PTI has not verified the authenticity of the footage published so far in the public domain.
