Amidst the nationwide outrage over the rape and murder case of a trainee doctor in Kolkata, another heinous case of sexual assault has come to light from West Bengal. On Friday (6th September), West Bengal Police filed a case under the POCSO Act, based on the complaint of a victim’s family, after they found a 15-year-old girl in an unconscious state on the roadside in West Bengal’s Hooghly district. As per reports, the Police found the minor victim in a semi-nude state.
The incident took place on Friday night. According to reports, the minor victim is a 15-year-old girl who was returning home from tuition. According to locals and her family members, unidentified individuals dragged her inside a four-wheeler and kidnapped her. They then took her to a secluded place where they sexually assaulted the minor girl.
Later, the locals found the minor in an unconscious state with her torn clothes at Haripal in Hooghly district. After they alerted the Police, several Police personnel rushed to the spot. The Police admitted the minor victim to a local hospital for medical treatment and to the police station subsequently for questioning.
Based on the family’s complaint, the West Bengal Police have lodged a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. However, Superintendent of Police, Hooghly Rural, Kamanasish Sen said that there was no evidence of rape and the girl had been molested.
He added that a woman officer is leading the investigation.
Reference an alleged sexual assault of a minor girl at Haripal yesterday evening.
— West Bengal Police (@WBPolice) September 7, 2024
Investigation till now, including the medico legal opinion, has revealed that there are no suspects at this stage.
Request to respect the privacy of the girl child and her family. Stern legal…
Taking to X, the West Bengal Police stated that no suspects have been identified in the investigation so far.
It wrote, “Investigation till now, including the medico legal opinion, has revealed that there are no suspects at this stage. Request to respect the privacy of the girl child and her family. Stern legal action will be initiated against those spreading rumours.”
The development comes at a time when protests and outrages have been raging in the state over the concerns of women’s safety, especially after the rape-murder case of a 31-year-old trainee doctor in Kolkata’s government-run hospital.
Sharing the news of the heinous incident, the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a scathing attack on the Mamata Banerjee government and dubbed the state under her regime as an “unsafe place” for women. The party also accused the Police of trying to cover up the incident, stating that the Hospital was cordoned off and media access was denied.
A teenager was sexually assaulted *twice* in a single day in Haripal. This is the state of law and order in Bengal under @MamataOfficial. Enough is enough! The safety of women and children is being sacrificed for political power. “Dafa Ek, Dabi Ek — Mamata’ r padotyag “is the…
— Agnimitra Paul BJP (@paulagnimitra1) September 7, 2024
Taking to X, BJP’s Social media head, Amit Malviya wrote, “Mamata Banerjee’s police have cordoned off the hospital, the media isn’t being given access and local TMC leaders are swirling around, to ensure the incident doesn’t get reported.”
As Bengal agitates the rape and murder of a young lady doctor, a 15 year old minor is raped and dropped off by the roadside, naked, in Haripal, Hoogly. This is part of Greater Kolkata region. The girl has been admitted to the local hospital.
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) September 6, 2024
Mamata Banerjee’s police has cordoned…
Dubbing West Bengal the most “unsafe place” for women, Malviya also demanded the resignation of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. He further stated, “Mamata Banerjee has failed. She must step down, immediately. Enough is enough. She hasn’t even set up fast-track courts to handle rape and POCSO cases.”
