Minor rape victim succumbs to injuries, TMC-BJP scuffle to get bereaved father to 'their side'

Leaders and supporters of both parties shouted slogans at each other, accused other of 'doing politics over a dead body' and got into scuffle for 'custody' of girl’s father

Trinamul and BJP supporters jostle in the presence of cops at the MJN Medical College and Hospital in Cooch Behar on Wednesday after the minor girl’s death : Picture by Main Uddin Chisti

TT Correspondent, Cooch Behar, 27.07.23 : A minor rape victim succumbed to her injuries on Wednesday morning at MJN Medical College & Hospital premises here, with Trinamul and BJP leaders brazenly competing between themselves to get the bereaved father to “their side”.

Leaders and supporters of both parties shouted slogans at each other, accused the other of “doing politics over a dead body” and got into a scuffle for the “custody” of the girl’s father.

“Instead of mourning the girl’s death, political parties tried to get her father on their side brazenly. We never expected to see this in Cooch Behar,” said resident Srihari Dutta, an artist.

On July 18 night, the 14-year-old girl went missing. Her family filed a police complaint on July 20.

A police probe revealed that a youth had abducted her with the help of four others. Then, he raped her.

The police found the badly injured girl at a private nursing home on July 20 and arranged to shift her to MJN Medical College & Hospital the same day. On July 23, the main accused and his four aides were arrested.

“The girl was on life-support and died this morning,” said a source at the hospital.

As the news spread, BJP leader Rahul Sinha, who was in Cooch Behar, reached the hospital and met the girl’s father and relatives.

Avijit De Bhowmik, the Trinamul chief of Cooch Behar district, reached with party workers. Seeing Sinha, they raised “go back” slogans.

BJP supporters reacted with sloganeering. Cops tried to control the situation, but Trinamul and BJP supporters jostled with each other and tried to drag the girl’s father to their side. Being pulled by his arms and clothes, the man fell ill.

The police took the girl’s body to the morgue for post-mortem. Additional forces reached the hospital to control the situation. The girl’s father was taken away by Trinamul and seated in Bhowmik’s car.

“Trinamul virtually abducted the victim’s father from the hospital premises. They even attacked us. We condemn Trinamul’s aggressive politics,” said BJP leader Dipa Chakraborty.

Parthapratim Roy, Trinamul district spokesperson, said: “Those involved in this crime (rape) are associated with the BJP.”

Women in the girl’s village raised a road blockade in protest of the crime.

The AIDSO, SFI and ABVP have separately called for a 12-hour students’ strike in Cooch Behar district on Thursday to protest the girl’s rape and death. However, exams will be outside the purview of the strike, they said.

Another minor raped

A 14-year-old girl from a Malda village was raped by a neighbour on Tuesday.

Police sources said her family filed a complaint with law enforcers on Wednesday, accusing fours neighbours of abetment. The girl was sent for a medical test.