Statesman News Service
MALDA, 30 AUG: Villagers turned violent and lynched a person at Bagbari village, three kilometers west of Malda town, today over the issue of a 17-year-old minor girl who had been allegedly abducted and ‘gang raped’ by a group of youths belonging to another community. A large contingent of police is camping at the villages and political leaders are holding meetings in the village appealing to the villagers not to exacerbate the charged atmosphere. The name of the person lynched is stated to be Manoj Mondal.
The irate villagers ransacked at least four houses of the accused youths at Bahanno-Bigha, the neighbouring village, and blocked the state highway at Bagbari for more than four hours since morning, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.
It was only after the accused were arrested and political leaders including MLA Mr Krishnendu Choudhury and Malda sub-divisional officer, Mr Prakash Pal intervened, the demonstrating mob withdrew the roadblock.
According to police sources, a group of six armed youths abducted the girl, when she was returning home with her relative, and forcibly took her to a nearby field last evening.
The relative of the girl, who was accompanying her, was beaten when he tried to resist the molesters. Later, he returned to the village and informed the girl’s family of the incident, police officials said.
The villagers finally rescued the girl from a deserted place last night and informed the police. Police rushed to the spot and admitted the victim to a near by hospital for medical tests.
Police arrested three out of the six accused but did not disclose their identities.
The situation took a grim turn this evening when the villagers lynched one of the accused. Police have been deployed to maintain peace in the village. “We are keeping a close eye on the village's situation,” the police
officials said.
No comments:
Post a Comment