West Bengal: Two men arrested in separate cases of molesting minors in North 24 Parganas, Howrah districts
North 24 Parganas (West Bengal) [India], September 2 (ANI): Amid ongoing protests in West Bengal over the rape and murder of a junior doctor at the RG Kar Medical College and Hospital, two more cases involving alleged molestation of minor girls has surfaced in Madhyamgram, North 24 Parganas district and at the state run hospital in Howrah district.
A nine-year-old girl was allegedly molested by a man while she was on her way home from a shop in Madhyamgram. Police later arrested the accused who also belongs to the same village.
As soon as the alleged sexual assault came to light on Saturday night, locals started protesting in front of the home of the accused. A local Panchayat member’s alleged remark ignited widespread public anger.
The minor girl’s father speaking to ANI said, “My daughter was going to the shop from home…He (accused) took my daughter to the shop and molested her. We did not see this, the person next to us told us that this was done to my daughter…When I asked my daughter about this, she said that this was done to her by beating and scaring her.”
“I called the Panchayat member, and he told us that the accused would be punished, but he went to the accused’s house and started supporting him…An FIR has been registered. The accused was caught at 4 am, he is in custody. We want the person who did this to my 9-year-old daughter to get the harshest punishment,” the man said.
Meanwhile, the molestation of a minor girl at the Howrah Government Hospital has come to light, the superintendent of the hospital said on Sunday.
According to Superintendent of the Howrah Government Hospital, Narayan Chattopadhyay, an FIR has been registered at Howrah Police Station with the subsequent arrest of the accused.
State BJP Secretary Umesh Rai said that the incident happened on Saturday night when the victim, who was already admitted to the hospital, had to undergo a CT scan. The superintendent of HGH also informed that they are providing security to the victim and her family members.
Following the incident, BJP leader Dilip Ghosh lashed out at Mamata Banerjee over the alleged attempt of rape of a minor girl at the Howrah Hospital and said that despite being a woman the West Bengal Chief Minister cannot protect or respect women.