West Bengal witnessed two separate cases of alleged sexual violence within a short span, prompting swift police action in Purba Bardhaman and Kolkata. While two men have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape and murder of a tribal woman in Purba Bardhaman, another man has been taken into custody in Kolkata's Tiljala area on charges of repeatedly sexually assaulting his daughter's friend.
Purba Bardhaman: Tribal Woman Found Dead, Two Arrested
A 28-year-old tribal woman, identified as Rani Hemram, was allegedly gang-raped and murdered in West Bengal's Dewandighi area of Purba Bardhaman district. Police arrested two accused within 24 hours of the crime.
According to investigators, Hemram had left her parental home on Tuesday afternoon to look for her husband after he failed to return home. When she did not come back, her family and local residents began searching for her.
Several hours later, her bloodstained body was found lying in a field near the Palitpur canal under the jurisdiction of Dewandighi Police Station. Police reached the spot, recovered the body and sent it to Burdwan Medical College and Hospital for post-mortem examination.
The accused have been identified as Sheikh Azizul, who was arrested from the Dewandighi area, and Sheikh Bhadai, who was detained in Birbhum's Nanur before being formally arrested.
The victim's family has alleged that she was gang-raped before being murdered and that her body was dumped in the field.
A five-member forensic team visited the crime scene on Wednesday and collected samples, which will be examined along with the post-mortem findings as part of the investigation.
Police have registered a case under multiple provisions related to alleged gang rape, murder and destruction of evidence. Both accused were produced before the Burdwan District Court, where investigators sought their custodial interrogation.
Kolkata: Tiljala Man Held on Rape Charges
In a separate incident, Kolkata Police arrested a man from the Tiljala area after he was accused of repeatedly sexually assaulting his daughter's friend.
Police said the survivor had been staying at her friend's residence for several days because of personal issues at her own home. She was reportedly well acquainted with the family.
According to the complaint, the accused allegedly assaulted the survivor multiple times when other members of the household were away. The survivor initially did not report the alleged abuse, claiming she had been threatened with dire consequences if she spoke about the incidents.
Police said the matter came to light after the survivor's health deteriorated and she disclosed the alleged assaults to her friend before informing her family. A written complaint was subsequently lodged at Tiljala Police Station.
A case has been registered under relevant provisions, including rape. The survivor's statement is being recorded, and a medical examination has been conducted. Police said the allegations are being investigated through medical evidence, the survivor's testimony and other material collected during the probe.
The two incidents, reported within days of each other, have once again drawn attention to concerns over crimes against women in West Bengal. Investigations in both cases are ongoing.
