House of accused in girl killing ransacked, VHP calls bandh

PRASHANT ACHARYA, EOI, SILIGURI, AUGUST 23, 2023 : An agitated mob on Tuesday night ransacked in the Matigara area of Siliguri the house of the accused arrested in connection with the killing of a minor school girl in the city on Monday. 

A neighbour was beaten up. A woman sustained minor injuries during the commotion. A police picket was posted in the area on Wednesday morning. 

The police made a lath-charge when they were pelted with stones. Protest rallies against the killing were taken out in Siliguri, Sukna, Bagdogra and Ghoshpukur on Wednesday. 

On Monday evening, the body of the girl was found in the Motajot area of Rabindra Pally in Siliguri. Within a few hours of the filing of a murder complaint, the Matigara Police Station arrested the accused from Lenin Colony. 

On Tuesday, the accused was remanded to 10 days in police custody by a Siliguri court. On Tuesday night, members of voluntary organizations and supporters of the BJP and the CPI (M) staged protests at Matigara police station,demanding strict punishment for the accused.On Wednesday morning, the Siliguri wing of Viswa Hindu Parishad took out a protest rally from Mallaguri in Siliguri. 

The rally paraded different areas of the city and staged a protest demonstration at Mahatma Gandhi More.

The VHP has called a 12-hour bandh in Siliguri on Thursday, demanding that the accused be hanged. North Bengal president of VHP Laxman Bansal said the bandh would be in force from 6.30 a.m. to 6.30 p.m. on Thursday.

Silent rallies would also be taken out. He said all business establishments, transportations, educational institutions and offices would be under the purview of the bandh.