Hanshkhali Gangrape & Murder: Victim's Kin Alleges Misconduct By Inspector-In-Charge Of Police Station

A plea has been raised before the Calcutta High Court on Monday on behalf of the parents of the deceased minor victim in the Hanshkhali gangrape and murder case, citing misconduct of concerned State police authorities. The Court had earlier ordered a probe by the CBI into the case. 

According to reports, a 14-year-old girl belonging to the scheduled caste community died on April 5 after she was allegedly gangraped by the son of a panchayat member owing allegiance to the Trinamool Congress (TMC) and others in West Bengal's Nadia district. She was bleeding profusely when she returned home and died later that night, according to her parents who lodged a police complaint on April 10.

The counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted before a Bench comprising Chief Justice Prakash Shrivastava and Justice Rajarshi Bharadwaj that the parents of the victim are present in Court and that they have alleged misconduct by the concerned police authorities. 

The Court was further apprised that the parents are aggrieved by the actions of the Inspector-in-Charge and the second officer of the concerned police station. 

Taking cognisance of the matter, the Court permitted the counsel to place on record the grievances raised in the form of an affidavit before the next date of hearing which is slated to take place on June 13. 

Furthermore, it was submitted before the Bench that no compensation has yet been awarded to the family members of the deceased victim. The Court on Monday sought the State government's response in another PIL seeking compensation to the tune of Rs 1 crore for the family members of the minor victim. 

Background

A Public Interest Litigation (PIL) had been filed wherein it had been alleged that on April 4, the deceased minor girl had been invited in the birthday party by one Brijgopal Goalain, Shyamnagar area in Hanshkhali in Nadia district of West Bengal, who is stated to be the son of an influential political leader of the ruling Trinamool Congress Party (TMC) and a member of Gazna Gram Panchayat. It was further alleged that the deceased was gang raped by Brijgopal Goalain with 4-5 other friends.

Opining that a fair investigation is required to instil confidence in the family members of the victim and also the residents of the locality and the State, the Court had underscored,

"..we are of the opinion that in order to have fair investigation in the matter and to instill confidence in the family members of the victim and also the residents of the locality and the State, the investigation should be carried out by the CBI instead of the local police. Hence, we direct the State Investigating Agency to hand over the investigation to the CBI with immediate effect. The State Investigating Agency will hand over all the papers relating to the investigation along with the custody of the accused persons to the CBI forthwith."

Case Title: Shaista Afreen and Ors v. State of West Bengal