Crushed in kidnap attempt

Jayanti Soren. Picture by Ananda Das

TT, Polba (Hooghly), June 25: A young woman died during a sexual assault on a Chinsurah road last evening, coming under a mini-truck when she took a tumble as the driver's helper allegedly tried to pull her into the vehicle.

Day labourer Jayanti Soren, 20, was attacked around 8.15pm on her way home from the sweets factory where she worked at Kamdevpur, around 69km from Calcutta, a local police officer said.

"She and a co-worker, Puja Oraon, were walking arm in arm when the Matador slowed down near them. The driver's assistant grabbed Jayanti's right hand and tried to pull her into the driver's cabin," the officer said.

"He was unsuccessful the first time because Jayanti had her left arm linked with Puja's. But the sudden jerk threw Puja off balance and she fell on the roadside. When the attacker pulled Jayanti's arm a second time, she too tripped and got run over."

Jayanti was dragged about 50 feet down Delhi Road, her dupatta caught in the rear wheels, and died on the spot from her head injuries, the officer said.

Driver Ranjit Baitha and his helper fled, abandoning the vehicle. Ranjit was arrested from his home in Liluah, Howrah, this evening. An eight-member probe team led by additional superintendent Koteswar Rao is looking for the helper.

Police sources said that Jayanti, a Class VII dropout, was part of the Okay Confectionery's workforce of 30-odd, made up mostly of local women, and earned Rs 120 a day.

"After work, Jayanti and Puja would walk the first kilometre till Sugandha More, where Jayanti would catch an auto-rickshaw, get off near the Chinsurah railway station and walk the rest of the way home to Singhi Bagan," the officer said.

Puja, 23, is being treated at Imambara Hospital in Chinsurah for the arm and leg injuries she suffered in the fall. Jayanti, injured in the head and limbs, was declared dead on arrival at the same hospital.

A case of kidnapping, molestation and murder has been slapped against the two accused. The driver is being questioned.

"We have learnt that the Matador came to Hooghly from Jamunalal Bajaj Street in Calcutta to collect tarpaulin from a storehouse. We hope to arrest the driver's helper soon," district superintendent of police Praveen Tripathi said.

Jayanti leaves behind her parents and a younger sister. Her mother Bharati, 37, too works at the same factory but did not report for work yesterday. Jayanti's father Ashim is a mushroom seller.

Last night, the women were walking home in a group of five. "Jayanti and Puja were just ahead of another group of three girls," said Shibu Ghosh, manager of the factory, located 500 metres from the assault site.