A Trinamul Congress delegation met Governor C V Ananda Bose and requested him to go to Chopra where four children died allegedly due to the negligence of the Border Security Force (BSF).

The delegation also requested him to listen to the state administration over the unrest in Sandeshkhali and not to take any decision only on the basis of the report filed by the BJP.

Chadrima Bhattacharya, state finance minister said the Governor has agreed to go to Chopra. “The Governor has agreed to go to Chopra and carry out an independent investigation. He has also agreed to talk to the administration over the Sandeshkhali issue. The meeting between the Governor and the delegation was held in a cordial environment,” she said.

The delegation that met the Governor included Mrs Bhattacharya, Kunal Ghosh, ministers Bratya Basu, Aroop Biswas and Birbaha Hansda.

Mr Ghosh alleged that a section of the media was giving fabricated news to create trouble in Sandeshkhali at the behest of some groups with vested interests.

Meanwhile, West Bengal Police in its X handle has uploaded two statements condemning a section of the media and BJP spokesperson Amit Malviya for circulating false information. It has further mentioned that strict legal action will be initiated against sections of the media for spreading unfounded misinformation.

West Bengal Police in its X handle wrote: “Wilful misinformation is being spread by a section of the media to mislead people about the events in Sandeshkhali. It is reiterated that no allegations about rape of women have so far been received during the enquiries since conducted by the State Women’s Commission, an all women 10 member fact-finding team led by DIG CID, and also the district police.

The representatives of the National Women’s Commission, following a recent visit to Sandeshkhali, have also corroborated this, saying that they did not receive any complaint of rape from local women during their enquiry. It is also being made unequivocally clear that strict legal action will be initiated against sections of the media for spreading unfounded misinformation.”

West Bengal Police in another statement made in its X handle said: “A video was today posted by @amitmalviya, claiming that a few women from Sandeshkhali have been forcibly taken away by the police. Nothing can be farther from the truth!

The facts are, a lady named Rekha Patra, a resident of Sandeshkhali had gone along with 4 other local women to depose before the Ld magistrate of Basirhat Court in connection with a case, in which she is a complainant. The IO of the case had escorted them to the court to ensure their safety and security. Strict legal action is being initiated against such deliberate falsehood with the blatantly ulterior motive of maligning the police.”