Shramajivi Mahila Samity had rescued Zarina Khatun last year from Kashmir, where she had been sold by traffickers five years ago. After the filing of a case, the traffickers fled, fearing arrest. The relatives of the traffickers (including powerful political leaders) subjected Zarina and her family to an economic boycott in order to force them to withdraw the case. Joynur Biwi, an SMS activist, then offered the Samity’s office (which is also a residence for her and other Samity workers) at Bhutomollah Pul, Kakdwip PS, to continue their economic activities.
The house owner, Daulat Sheikh, however told Joynur to vacate the house, saying that he did not want his premises to be used to help “women of bad character”. Joynur asked for time, but on the morning of 29th August 2011, the house owner and four others assaulted her. When they tried to attack her with chains, other people who had crowded around by then rescued her. She went first to the local police camp, only to be told that she deserved the beating, because she had misbehaved by not vacating the premises.
An FIR was filed after much pressure on the Officer in Charge in the evening (Case number 354 dated 29.8.11 under sections 341,323,354,379, and 506). Later, at 7 PM, when Samity organisers went with a police party to get the house re-opened, they were shocked to find the police negotiating with the assailants instead of arresting them.
The next day, on 30th August 2011, after the Samity organised a protest at the police station, the OC of the police station finally agreed to arrest the assailants within 48 hours and to get the office opened. However when no action was taken, today (2nd September 2011) a gherao of the police station was organised.