West Bengal – 5 year old girl raped, police shielding the accused #Vaw

15 May 2013

To

The Chairman

West Bengal Human Rights Commission

Bhabani Bhaban

Alipur

Kolkata – 27

Respected Sir,

I want to draw your kind attention on an incident of inhumane rape on a minor girl of only five years of age and subsequent inactions of police of Raninagar Police Station Our fact finding report provides the detail of the whole incident. It is revealed during the fact finding that the police of the said police station refused to register the complaint of the victim family in first instance and though arrested the alleged accused but after pressure from the influential  family of the accused; made him scot free, though, registered the complaint on later date, not arrested the accused till date. The accused boy is also a minor. The physical condition of the girl is grave.

The police personnel of Raninagar police station suggested the family of the victim girl for arranging early treatment of her while asked to register their verbal complaint as the family members was literate. The police personnel told the father of the minor child to make a written complaint against the accused so that they could take appropriate steps against the accused while the father of the minor victim asked the reasons regarding the release of the accused from their custody instead of producing him before the court. On 20.04.2013, Mr. Nabiul Islam lodged a written complaint on behalf of the minor girl before the Officer-In-Charge of Raninagar Police Station. But till date no appropriate actions have been taken by the police personnel of the said police station and the accused is at in large.

Hence we seek your urgent intervention regarding the following the matters:

·       The accused must be arrested immediately

·       The role of the police personnel of Raninagar Police Station regarding their negligence and acquiescence with the accused and his ‘influential’ family must be investigated by an independent agency, and subsequent charges must be framed against the involved police personnel in accordance to the law

·       The family of minor girl should be financially compensated for the medical expenses incurred

·       The family must be provided with security and safety during the trial.

Thanking you

Yours truly

Kirity Roy

Secretary, MASUM & National Convener, PACTI

Name of the victim: – Ruma Khatun (name withheld), daughter of- Mr. Nabiul Islam, aged about 5 years, residing at Village- Ramnagar Natun Para, Post Office- Ramnagar DK, Police Station- Raninagar, District- Murshidabad.

Name of the perpetrators:- Mr. Diken Seikh, son of Mr. Sentu Seikh of Village- Ramnagar Natun Para, Post Office- Ramnagar DK, Police Station- Raninagar, District- Murshidabad and involved police personnel of Raninagar police station

Date and time of incident: – On 18.04.2013 at 2 pm.

Case Details: –

It is revealed during our fact finding that Mr. Nabiul Islam the father of the minor victim is living with his wife Ms. Layla Bibi along with the victim girl. Though Mr. Nabiul Islam is from Backward Class of Muslim Community, he and his family does not possess the certificate for the same. The family lives under abject poverty but their names have not been listed in Below Poverty Line (B.P.L) list either. The girl used to attend the local ICDS (Integral Child Development Scheme) Centre.

On 18.04.2013 at 2 pm, the girl was playing at adjacent mango orchard to her house with her friends. In the mean time the accused Mr. Diken Seikh, son of Mr. Sentu Seikh came to the place and made consecutive sexual gestures towards the girl while she was playing. The accused thereafter allured the girl by giving her a chocolate and took her to a nearby wheat field. The victim suddenly pushed down the minor girl on the field and jumped upon to her body. He abruptly tore open her clothes and forced upon her. The accused raped the minor with savaged cruelty. The minor girl made alarm while she was wreaked in severe pain and became senseless. The accused left the bleeding girl and fled from the scene. Few villagers suddenly came to the spot and informed Ms. Layla Bibi; the mother of the girl, about the incident. Ms. Layla Bibi came to the place and rushed her daughter to Godhonpara Primary Health Centre for medical treatment. But the doctor of that Primary Health Centre transferred the girl to Berhampore Matri Sadan Hospital for better treatment after examining her injuries received during the alleged rape.

On the very day of the incident, the parents of the victim went to Raninagar Police Station to lodge a complaint. But the police personnel of the said police station suggested them to get treated the girl at first, and then to make the complaint.  In the meantime the police arrested the accused on the basis of oral complaint by the parents took him to the police station, not to juvenile home, but later released him after his family interfered and “influenced” the police, instead of producing him before the court. Fact finding revealed that the maternal uncle of the accused is an influential political personality of the locality.

On 20.04.2013, Mr. Nabiul Islam lodged a written complaint over the incident, and police registered the complaint as an First Information Report (F.I.R.) and initiated a case against the accused vide Raninagar PS Case No. 272/2013 dated 20.04.2013 under section 376 (2) (f) of Indian Penal Code. But till now no appropriate actions have been taken by the police personnel of the said police station and the accused is still at large.

On 25.04.2013, the minor girl was discharged from Berhampore Matri Sadan Hospital after a heroic battle over the critical injuries which she received during a savage aggression upon her.

On 03.04.2013 at 8 pm, our fact finding team called to Mr. Ajay Pal; Sub Inspector of Raninagar police station and investigating officer of the case over telephone (03481-238038) and wanted to know the details of ongoing investigation and about the intended arrest of the accused. But the said IO of the case told that he did not know anything about the incident and abruptly disconnected the line.

—
Kirity Roy
Secretary
Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha
(MASUM)
&
National Convenor (PACTI)
Programme Against Custodial Torture & Impunity
40A, Barabagan Lane (4th Floor)
Balaji Place
Shibtala
Srirampur
Hooghly
PIN- 712203
Tele-Fax – +91-33-26220843
Phone- +91-33-26220844 / 0845
e. mail : [email protected]
Web: www.masum.org.in

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