Woman files rape plaint, panchayat pradhan lodges FIR that he was being framed
Times of India | 10 March 2025
123 Midnapore: West Midnapore police on Sunday started a probe into a complaint and a counter-complaint, one in which a Narayangarh woman alleged that she was raped inside a Makrampur panchayat office by the pradhan and his aide, and the other in which the pradhan claimed he was being framed for political reasons.
The woman is now admitted in Midnapore Medical College Hospital.
In the first complaint, the victim's husband claimed he and his wife, both BJP supporters, were being targeted by the Trinamool-run panchayat and its pradhan Lakshmi Sheet. On Sunday, the woman had reportedly gone to the panchayat office to submit an "undertaking" that she was quitting BJP. Her husband claimed that Sheet and his aide, both elderly persons, raped her.
Sheet not only denied all allegations against him but also lodged another FIR alleging that he was being heckled and framed by BJP.
West Midnapore police chief Dhritiman Sarkar said they were probing both complaints.
TMC's district president Sujay Hazra said: "The party will not tolerate any disrespect towards women. If such an incident is proven true, the party will act against Lakshmi Sheet and police will take legal action."
BJP's district vice-president Rama Prasad Giri said: "The woman was raped at the TMC office. With the help of senior police officials, she was brought to hospital. We urge the administration to ensure justice for her."