Arson after child rape by neighbour

TT, Raiganj, Oct. 27: A 10-year-old girl who was suspected to have been raped by a neighbour died today, following which some residents of the Raiganj locality torched the house of the accused.

The youth wanted in the alleged rape case is on the run. His mother has been arrested and remanded in police custody for three days.

The girl, who was the daughter of a house help, was called out by the youth at 10pm. He had some sweets and fruits with him.

At that time, the girl's mother was preparing dinner in the shanty home.

"He is known to us and told us his family had sent the food after Laxmi Puja. He then asked my children whether they wanted to have khichri. As both of them agreed, he told them to come to his home with him and promised he will escort them back. I did not have any suspicion and allowed them to go with him," the grieving mother said today.

When the children did not return after two hours, the woman went to the youth's house in search of them.

"I was surprised to learn that he did not go home with my children. I started searching for them and on reaching a temple, I found my son standing alone and weeping," the mother said.

The boy told her that the neighbour had beaten him up and asked him to leave. He had taken the girl away. "After some time, I found my daughter lying in a bush nearby. She was bleeding and her clothes were dishevelled. I called for help and some local people came," she said.

When the girl was taken to the local rural hospital, doctors pronounced her dead. When the mother went to the youth's house later, she alleged, his mother and brother thrashed and insulted her.

Local people have also alleged police inaction. "We called up police around 1am. But they did not come. Later, more phone calls were made but the police arrived in our village only around 8am in the morning," said Ratan Das, a resident.

A group of residents ransacked and torched the house of the accused around 3.30am. "We have decided we will not allow the family to stay in the village," Md. Ismail, another resident, said.

Sayed Waqar Raja, the superintendent of police of North Dinajpur, said he would investigate if there was a delay by the force in responding to the phone calls.

"I will find out whether our officers acted late after being informed about the crime. We are in search of the accused and have arrested his mother," Raja said.