Four youths have been arrested in connection with the alleged gang rape of a tribal minor girl in the Durgapur police station area of Paschim Bardhaman district. The accused were produced before the Durgapur Sub-Divisional Court on Thursday, which remanded them to six days of police custody. Police have registered a case under the relevant provisions of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to police, the incident allegedly occurred on Wednesday night when the minor had gone to a local fair in the Durgapur area. It is alleged that the four accused found the girl alone, took her to a nearby forested area, and sexually assaulted her. When the girl did not return home that night, her family launched a search but was unable to locate her. According to her family, she returned home the following morning in an injured condition and informed them about the alleged assault.
The victim’s family subsequently lodged a written complaint at Durgapur Police Station. Acting on the complaint, police immediately initiated an investigation and arrested four suspects, all of whom are reportedly residents of the same locality as the victim.
The minor was admitted to Durgapur Sub-Divisional Hospital, where she is undergoing treatment. Her medical examination has been conducted as part of the investigation.
The accused were produced before the Durgapur Sub-Divisional Court on Thursday, where the court granted police custody for six days to facilitate further investigation. ETV Bharat quoted Raspreet Singh, Deputy Commissioner (East) of the Asansol-Durgapur Police Commissionerate, as saying: “We received a complaint from the victim’s family alleging that the minor girl was gang-raped by four youths. Based on the complaint, four individuals have been arrested. The girl is currently undergoing treatment. An investigation is underway to determine if anyone else is involved in the incident.” Police said they are collecting evidence and recording witness statements as part of the ongoing investigation.
The incident has triggered protests by several organisations, which have demanded swift justice and stronger measures to ensure the safety of women and children. On Thursday, members of the All India Democratic Women’s Association (AIDWA) submitted a memorandum at Durgapur Police Station demanding exemplary punishment for those responsible and improved security arrangements for women in the area. Reacting to the incident, Jahanara Khan, West Bengal State President of AIDWA, condemned the alleged crime and expressed concern over incidents of violence against women. She alleged that cases of violence against women continue to occur and called for a fair investigation and exemplary punishment for the accused. Referring to another reported incident involving the alleged gang rape of a minor in Durgapur about a month ago, she urged the authorities to take stronger preventive measures.
Monalisa Sinha, the State Secretary of the organization, expressed deep concern over the recurring instances of violence, emphasizing that the state administration must take immediate and comprehensive responsibility to ensure the safety and security of women across the region.
