The son of a Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader was arrested for the rape and murder of a 13-year-old tribal girl on Thursday. The incident occurred in Banshihari in Gangarampur subdivision in Dakshin Dinajpur district of West Bengal.
‘The accused was identified as Priyanath Rajbanshi and he is the son of Naresh Rajbanshi, an influential TMC booth President. Several family members of the accused are linked with the ruling political dispensation in the State’, according to the media reports.
The heinous crime was carried out by Priyanath on Wednesday night at the residence of the victim. The minor’s mother came to her rescue when the minor raised the alarm. However, the accused managed to flee the crime scene.
Reportedly, after committing rape the accused had tried to strangle the victim to death using a drawstring, leaving serious injury marks on her neck. A police team led by ASP Indrajit Sarkar and IC Asim Gope reached the crime scene and recovered the pants and shoes of the accused. They also arrested Priyanath Rajbanshi while he was trying to escape.
The victim is said to be in critical condition and is presently undergoing treatment at Gangarampur Super Specialty Hospital.
A local villager named Deepti Rajbanshi said while speaking about the incident ‘We want justice. The man has committed similar crimes before. We want strict punishment for the accused’.
She cautioned, ‘If the police doesn’t take any action, we will take the law into our hands’. ‘Priyanath Rajbanshi has been involved in at least 3 incidents of sexual violence’, according to the media reports.
Another villager named Shibnath Pandey inquired, ‘Girls have no protection. The government says they are protecting the tribal community. But where is the protection?’
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