Women assaulted and stripped by mob at Pakuahat, released from the district correctional home

 Duo were arrested on charge that they had allegedly been involved in vandalism of Nalagola police outpost on July 17

The demonstration by BJP supporters in front of the Malda SP's office on Sunday to protest against the assault on the women

Soumya De Sarkar, TT, Malda, 26.07.23 : Two women who had been assaulted and stripped by a mob at Pakuahat in Malda district on July 18 were released from the district correctional home here on Tuesday.

The duo who are sisters-in-law were granted bail by a court on Monday.

On July 18, the women were accused of stealing money and caught by a mob at the market in Pakuahat under the jurisdiction of Bamangola police station. The mob assaulted the women and tore their clothes.

The duo were later arrested on the charge that they had allegedly been involved in the vandalism of the Nalagola police outpost on July 17.

BJP workers had demonstrated in front of the outpost on July 17 in protest against the alleged murder of a party worker. The police alleged that the outpost had been ransacked during the protest.

Several BJP workers and the party’s Malda North MP Khagen Murmu and Habibpur MLA Jewel Murmu were booked for the vandalism. They were charged with assaulting public servants and obstructing their duties, indulging in rioting and criminal intimidation and causing obstruction in a public way.

A lawyer representing the women filed a bail petition at a local court on Monday. The court heard the case and granted them bail.

On Tuesday morning, the women’s family members and relatives reached the correctional home.

“They were falsely implicated in a case. Also, they were beaten up without any reason. Both of them sell dry fish at markets. On July 17, they were at home and didn’t go to Nalagola where a police outpost was reportedly ransacked,” said the daughter of one of the women.

The attack on the women came to light when the BJP posted a video of the alleged incident on social media.

MP Khagen Murmu launched a sit-in demonstration in front of the office of the superintendent of police in Malda, along with others, on Saturday to protest against the assault on the women. The dharna continued for 28 hours and was lifted after the police arrested five persons, including two women, for assaulting and stripping the duo.

Rape victim

BJP leader Rahul Sinha on Tuesday called on the relatives of a minor girl who had been raped by a youth in Cooch Behar district recently.

The 14-year-old girl had gone missing on July 18. She was found at a private nursing home in an unconscious state on July 20.

“During the investigation, we arrested Bappa Barman, who is accused of abducting and sexually assaulting the girl. Four others have been arrested for helping him. The girl is under treatment and on the life support system,” said a police officer.

After meeting the girl’s family members and speaking to doctors, Sinha said: “The girl is in critical condition. We are in touch with the family. If the police don’t take proper steps, we will resort to protests.”