West Bengal: Protest Erupts In Falakata Over Minor Girl's Rape-Murder; Accused Lynched, Another In Custody

Falakata Rape-Murder Case: An enraged mob lynched one of the accused in a rape and murder case of a minor girl while locals are protesting to demand the death penalty for the second accused who surrendered.

Falakata Rape-Murder Case: In a shocking case that has sparked widespread outrage, a girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Falakata in Alipurduar district, West Bengal, leading to an enraged mob lynching one of the accused, police said. According to the police, the incident took place in the Falakata area on Friday afternoon.

The girl's body was discovered in a pond, prompting villagers to apprehend a man, whom they believed was involved in the crime. The accused, a man in his forties, was tied to a tree and beaten severely by the crowd, a police officer confirmed, according to news agency PTI. Though police attempted to rescue him and transported him to a hospital, doctors declared him dead upon arrival. A second individual, suspected to be connected to the crime, later surrendered at the local police station.

The village has since been gripped with unrest as residents staged protests, demanding swift justice for the victim and calling for the death penalty for the accused who surrendered. A large police presence has been deployed to ensure peace and prevent further escalation of tensions in the area, as per PTI.

Alipurduar Rape Case: BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari Alleges ‘Irregularities In Post Mortem Procedures’

The incident has stirred a political backlash, with the Leader of the Opposition in the Bengal Assembly, Suvendu Adhikari, raising concerns over the post-mortem examination. In a social media post, he said he visited the victim's parents, who allegedly mentioned irregularities in the post-mortem process. "I got to know about the irregularities in the post-mortem procedures which might prove to be a hindrance later on when the matter would be on trial in a Court. I have assured the bereaved parents that we are there for any help that they might require, be it legal or anything else," he said.

Criticising his former mentor, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, Adhikari remarked that the Bengal government must address systemic issues. "This horrific and heart-shattering incident in Alipurduar district is another addition to the series of sexual crimes against children and women of the State. Mamata Banerjee Govt must introspect what's wrong with the system and how to tackle the situation proactively so that the prowling sexual predators can be stopped in their tracks before another unsuspecting innocent girl becomes the victim of such gruesome crime," he said.

Man Arrested For Raping 9-Year-Old In Alipurduar 

In a separate incident in the Alipurduar district on Friday, police arrested a man accused of raping a nine-year-old girl in the Kumargram area. The accused allegedly lured the young girl with chocolates while she was playing near her home, took her to a nearby forested area, and assaulted her. According to police, he threatened the girl with severe consequences if she disclosed the incident, PTI reported. The child was found by her family hours later and revealed the ordeal after they noticed she was injured and bleeding from her private parts.

Alipurduar Superintendent of Police Y Raghuvanshi confirmed the arrest, while locals have demanded that the accused be hanged.