Kalukhanra: Trinamool Congress’ Panchayat member Avijit Mondal has been arrested for allegedly molesting, torturing and attempting to rape a differently-abled woman at Kalukhanra village. The incident took place at Pingla police station in West Midnapore on Monday, according to local sources.
The differently-abled woman went to her elder sister’s house in Kalukhara village. At night, when she went to the pond to wash the dishes, accused Panchayat member Mondal allegedly abducted her from there. On the next day, the victim was examined at Midnapore Medical College and Hospital. Following this, her family filed a complaint via email, the sources said.
On Wednesday, police arrested Mondal and produced him before a Midnapore court. He was later sent to three-day police custody. Asked about this, State Minister of Water Resources Investigation and Development of West Bengal Manas Ranjan Bhunia called rape a “heinous crime” and asked not to politicize the issue.
This comes days after a minor girl died after allegedly being raped earlier in the month in Hanskhali in Nadia district. The minor girl, a student of Class 9, was allegedly raped on April 4th during a birthday party at the house of a TMC panchayat official’s son, according to a police complaint filed by her parents. She bled to death hours later, the complaint said. Following this, two persons, including the TMC leader’s son, have been arrested thus far.
Meanwhile, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on April 11th expressed doubt over the cause of the minor girl’s demise as she wondered if the victim died after being slapped by someone. The chief minister also claimed that the victim was in a relationship with the accused, and wondered if she was pregnant.