A schoolgirl was allegedly sexually assaulted in Bengal's Hooghly when she was returning from tuition on Friday. The incident came amid protests over the rape and murder of a junior doctor on the premises of Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the CPI-M are now using the latest incident to target the Mamata Banerjee government.
Upon receiving the information about the girl from locals, police rescued the Class-9 student of a school in Haripal. She was found in a semi-naked condition, sources said. The family of the student lodged a complaint with the police, who registered a case under the POCSO Act.
Following the rescue, the CPI-M staged a protest at Haripal police station on Friday evening.
The schoolgirl's family claimed that she was returning home from her tuition class on Friday morning in an e-rickshaw (toto) when the driver and a passenger allegedly sexually assaulted her.
The West Bengal Police in an X post said: "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. Investigation proceeds."
Citing the incident, Bharatiya Janata Party leader Amit Malviya said West Bengal has become the most unsafe place for women under Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. "She must step down immediately. Enough is enough. She hasn’t even set up fast-track courts to handle rape and POCSO cases," Malviya said.
"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. Mamata Banerjee’s police has cordoned off the hospital, media isn’t being given access and local TMC leaders are swirling around, to ensure the incident doesn’t get reported," Malviya posted on X.
(With inputs from ABP Ananda.)