Outrage over minor girl’s rape and murder leads to clashes in Dinajpur

Clashes between the villagers and police broke out in the district on Saturday, days after the alleged gang-rape and murder of a Dalit girl in North Dinajpur district’s Kaliagunj. On the scene, police and security workers were visible.

The victim’s body was discovered in Kaliyaganj, and the police quickly acted to take the two suspects into custody, according to SP Dinajpur Sana Akhtar. “We learned that a girl had been missing since Thursday night. We started performing searches at all bus stops and train stations. A body was later discovered in Kailyaganj. In response to the complaint made by the deceased’s family, two people have been arrested.”

Suvendu Adhikari, the leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party, claimed in the state assembly earlier on Friday that the police had prevented the BJP MLAs from meeting the victim’s relatives. He also charged the cops with “diluting” the proof.

The alleged gang rape and murder of a young Dalit girl was also noted by NCPCR chairperson Priyank Kanoongo, who also promised to meet with the victim’s family and speak with the authorities and medical professionals who conducted the post-mortem.

Taking to Twitter, Kanoongo said, “The NCPCR has taken cognizance of News Reports of gang rape and murder of a Dalit girl child in Raiganj, Uttar Dinajpur of West Bengal. A fact-finding team will be visiting there to conduct an inquiry.”

NCPCR also alleged that the Chief Secretary of the state and the North Dinajpur Collector are not responding despite the body informing them about the incident. The statement further stated that punishing the culprits is the only way to stop such incidents in West Bengal.