West Bengal girl’s rape-murder case
Kolkata, July 12: Two more persons have been arrested in connection with the lynching of a youth, 26-year-old Indrajit Tanti, on July 5 at Baruipur in South 24 Parganas district over the alleged rape and murder of a 12-year-old girl following search operations.
With these two fresh arrests, the total number of arrests in the case had increased to seven. The two, arrested after a night-long search, will be presented at a district court in South 24 Parganas later in the day, and the public prosecutor will seek their police custody.
The seven arrested persons in the case so far are Farooq Sardar, Rajesh Sardar, Shariful Mallick, Sabiuddin Vaidya, Farid Sheikh, Abu Siddique Sardar and Shamim Ali Khan.
Cases have been registered against them under relevant sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023, relating to unlawful assembly, rioting, obstructing the work of a public servant, wilfully causing hurt to a public person and murder by lynching.
The number of arrests in connection with the case might increase in the coming days, said officials.
Incidentally, Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari went to Baruipur on Saturday afternoon and handed over a compensation cheque of Rs 25 lakh to the family members of the 26-year-old youth killed in a mob lynching, who had already been declared innocent in the case of the alleged rape and murder of the minor girl following investigation by the police.
The Chief Minister said those who were rejected by the people in the recently concluded West Bengal assembly polls were behind the mob-lynching conspiracy.
Probe officer changed again
West Bengal Police on Sunday changed the investigating officer (IO) for the case of the 12-year-old minor girl and appointed a more experienced and senior-ranking officer.
Santanu Mukhopadhyay, a Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) rank officer, has been appointed to investigate the matter. The previous two IOs, who were replaced in succession, were inspector-ranking officers.
The latest change in the IO concerned was announced just a day after Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari visited Baruipur and assured the family members of prompt completion of the investigation. (IANS)
