Tension in Hills after molestation

Photo Courtesy: HRPA

SNS, DARJEELING, 28 SEPT: Tension gripped Darjeeling following an allegation that a Rapid Action Force (West Bengal) jawan had molested a 16-year-old schoolgirl at Ghoom-Banjyang. 

An angry mob comprising the GJMM’s frontal organisations laid siege at the Darjeeling police station this afternoon. There was an attempt to torch a police vehicle. 

An NBSTC bus were allegedly put ablaze. To disperse the mob, paramilitary forces charged with batons and fired a few rounds of blanks. 

According to eyewitnesses, the paramilitary personnel did not spare passers- by, and some media persons were allegedly beaten up as well. 

The GJMM’s student wing called a 12-hour general strike covering the Hills tomorrow to condemn the incident. 

Darjeeling police superintendent, Mr Kunal Agrawal, informed that Arun Prawanik of the 2nd Battalion, Barrackpore, has been arrested on the charge of molestation. The girl is admitted at the District hospital. 

“She fainted due to the trauma she had gone through,” one of her family members said. Condemning the incident, the GJMM leadership has written to the Union home minister. 

“We have asked him to immediately withdraw the paramilitary forces now deployed in the Hills,” said the party’s general secretary, Mr Roshan Giri. 

Inspector general of police, north Bengal, Mr Shashikant Pujari said: “Police have arrested the accused from the state’s Rapid Action Force and registered a case of molestation,” adding that it is difficult to stop individual police personnel from committing such crimes. 

The Jalpaiguri divisional commissioner and GTA principal secretary, Mr Ram Das Meena, said: “Police have taken appropriate action. The situation is now under control and peaceful.”