According to the girl’s family, she had gone to a coaching centre on Friday afternoon. When she did not return home, the family searched for her but to no avail. They then approached the police to report her missing. The local police, however, directed them to file a complaint at another police station, the family alleged.
When the girl’s body was found in a nearby pond on Friday night, tensions escalated in the area. On Saturday morning, an agitated crowd gathered around the local police station with brooms, sticks and bamboos. A Sub-Divisional Police Officer was gheraoed. Villagers vandalised the police outpost and set it on fire, resulting in several important documents getting destroyed. The police eventually resorted to baton charge to disperse the crowd.
“So far, one person has been arrested. It remains to be seen if anyone else is involved. Efforts are underway to normalise the situation in the area. That is our priority,” a senior police officer said.
Asked about the allegations of negligence against the police, he added, “We have identified and arrested the accused and he has admitted to the crime. We have taken each step and acted promptly. Still if people have allegations, we will surely look into those as well,” he added.
The incident has triggered a political tussle, with the Opposition parties hitting out at the Trinamool Congress government. “They did not take the complaint seriously. It is Devi Paksha and at such a time, a daughter is being raped and murdered. Which Durga shall we worship if our Durga at home is not safe? It is all because of Mamata Banerjee. She has spread a message that [the police should] not file FIR easily,” Bengal BJP chief Sukanto Majumdar said.
“Those who raped a nine-year-old girl… Do they have the right to worship Durga on Ashtami? Where are we heading as a society?” CPI(M) leader Tanmay Bhattacharjee said.
The accused, who is 19 years old, was remanded in police custody for seven days on Saturday. A case has been registered against him on charges of murder, evidence tampering and kidnapping. Dhali said that although the arrested youth admitted to the crime, the motive is not yet clear.
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