New Delhi: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee accused the BJP of instigating turmoil in Sandeshkhali, prompting a swift rebuttal from the BJP, which accused the TMC and the state government of complicity in crimes against women.

As the situation in Sandeshkhali, North 24 Parganas, gradually returns to normalcy after a week of protests alleging atrocities on villagers and sexual harassment of women by local Trinamool Congress leaders, a TMC delegation, including three ministers, visited the area.

They pledged zero tolerance against any wrongdoing while questioning the actions of BJP-led governments in states facing similar allegations.

Meanwhile, Sukanta Majumdar, West Bengal BJP president, announced that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is expected to address a women's rally in Barasat, located in the North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal, on March 7.

Addressing a public distribution program in Suri, Banerjee asserted her initiative in directing the police to initiate a case in Sandeshkhali, emphasizing that no woman from the area had filed an FIR.

"An incident has happened (in Sandeshkhali). It was made to happen. First, they (BJP) sent the Enforcement Directorate (ED), and then ED's friend, the BJP entered Sandeshkhali along with some media which started creating hullabaloo," Banerjee said.

This marks the second occasion in the past four days where the chief minister has levied accusations against the BJP for inciting unrest in the region.

Since the first week of February, villages in Sandeshkhali block in North 24 district have witnessed protests over allegations of sexual atrocities on women and land grabbing by TMC leaders.

The police have so far arrested 18 people including local TMC leader Shibaprasad Hazra and Uttam Sardar in connection with the incidents of violence at Sandeshkhali. They have also added sections of 'gangrape' and 'attempted murder' against three of the prime accused, one of whom is still absconding.

Hazra, who was arrested last night, was remanded to eight days of police custody by a court in Basirhat.

Banerjee said that she would be sending her officers to Sandeshkhali who would talk to the locals there to find out if the complaints were genuine.

"In Bengal, if people are tortured, we take action. I am sending officers who will listen to the people and if it is found that someone has taken things from them, they will get back everything. It's my promise," the chief minister said.

(With inputs from PTI)