Bengal Gang-Rape Investigation Disrupted By 'State Team', Child Rights Body NCPCR Chief Says

WBCPCR chairperson Sudeshna Roy denied accusations that they prevented the NCPCR team from investigating the case and claimed that Kanoongo was attempting to politicize the matter.

New Delhi: NCPCR chief Priyank Kanoongo on Saturday claimed that members of the West Bengal Commission for Protection of Child Rights (WBCPCR) obstructed his inquiry into the gang rape of a girl at a school in the Malda district of West Bengal, as reported by PTI.

Kanoongo and his team from the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) arrived at the girl's residence in the Gazole police station region around 8:50 am, only to find that Sudeshna Roy, the chairperson of WBCPCR, was already present.

Kanoongo emerged from the residence within minutes and told the reporters "The state team was disrupting our investigation," PTI reported.

This led to a verbal argument between the state and central teams, and tension escalated when BJP supporters waiting outside the house started protesting.

Roy denied accusations that they prevented the NCPCR team from investigating the case and claimed that Kanoongo was attempting to politicize the matter.

The gang rape incident took place on March 18, when a class 6 student was allegedly raped by outsiders at her school. Three individuals were apprehended in connection with the case.

The NCPCR, after receiving a complaint from BJP MLA Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, was investigating the incident, and later visited the school where the incident took place, according to PTI.

Kanoongo on Friday had alleged that he was assaulted by police officers while visiting the residence of a girl in Tiljala, Kolkata, who was killed by a neighbor earlier in the week.

However, the police rejected the claims, stating that the officers had cooperated with Kanoongo and that it was he who had "misbehaved" with them.

Earlier on Thursday, WBCPCR wrote to the national child rights body NCPCR, stating that its proposed visit to the state over the murder of a girl in Kolkata and the rape of another minor in Malda was "not really necessary".

"We at WBCPCR have been informed that you are thinking of a visit to Kolkata and Malda regarding the Tiljala child murder case and sexual abuse of a school girl in Malda respectively," WBCPCR chief Sudeshna Roy said in the letter.

"Your concern is, however, appreciated, but your visit is not really necessary on these issues, as the State Commission has already taken cognizance," Roy said.