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A horrific incident of a nine-year-old school girl's alleged rape and murder in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, has sparked outrage and prompted swift action from the Calcutta High Court. The court, responding to a petition filed by the girl's family, ordered the state police to file charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (Pocso) and mandated that the post-mortem be conducted at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in Kalyani, Nadia district. The court's decision comes amidst widespread protests by the victim's family and local residents who are demanding justice for the young girl.
Justice Tirthankar Ghosh, presiding over the special hearing, questioned the police's initial failure to file Pocso charges despite the inquest report indicating multiple injuries on the victim's body. The girl's body was discovered in a swamp on Friday night, hours after she went missing. The suspect, identified as 18-year-old Mostakin Sardar, was arrested on Saturday and remanded in police custody. The state government's defense, arguing that Pocso charges could be added after the post-mortem report, was rejected by Justice Ghosh. The court also directed that the Pocso case be heard by the additional district judge in Baruipur.
The victim's family, deeply dissatisfied with the initial police investigation, had demanded a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and opted for the post-mortem to be conducted at a central institution rather than a state hospital. The court, referencing a previous case involving the rape and murder of a trainee doctor at Kolkata's RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, where the public also demanded a CBI investigation, granted the family's request for the AIIMS post-mortem. The decision was met with approval by the family, who expressed their satisfaction with the court's intervention and its recognition of the shortcomings in the initial police investigation.
The incident has triggered widespread protests across the region, with opposition parties and local residents demanding swift justice for the young victim. Notably, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, while condemning the crime and expressing support for the police force, also advocated for the death penalty for the perpetrator. The incident has highlighted the deep-seated public anger and demand for accountability in cases of sexual violence, especially against children. The investigation and prosecution of the case will be closely watched by the public and the court's orders underscore the importance of stringent action and a fair trial to ensure justice for the victim and her family.
Source: Bengal girl rape-murder: Calcutta HC orders Pocso charges, autopsy at AIIMS