In a shocking incident in South 24 Parganas district, West Bengal, the body of a 10-year-old girl was discovered in a marshy area near Jaynagar on Saturday morning, leading to violent protests by locals. The girl, who had gone missing since Friday evening, was allegedly raped and murdered. Locals accused the police of not responding to their initial complaints, triggering unrest in the area.
Angered by the police’s alleged inaction, an enraged mob stormed the Mahismari police outpost, setting it on fire and pelting stones at police officers. Several vehicles outside the outpost were also vandalized, forcing the police personnel to retreat. A large contingent of police forces was rushed to the scene, and tear gas was used to disperse the mob, which had tried to corner senior police officers who arrived at the site to control the situation.
According to villagers, the girl’s family had filed a missing person complaint at the local police outpost on Friday night, but the police allegedly did not act promptly. One local resident said, “The family members of the girl lodged an FIR at the Mahismari outpost in the area, but the police did not act on the complaint immediately.” Villagers compared the incident to a previous case where police were similarly slow to respond when a woman doctor’s body was found at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital in Kolkata.
STORY | Girl’s body found in Bengal, locals torch police outpost, vandalise vehicles
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Another local, Ganesh Dolui, voiced the community’s frustrations: “We will continue our agitation till all those behind the rape and murder of our minor daughter are punished. We also demand action against those who responded late to the complaint, which may have led to her death. Had the police acted promptly, the girl could have been rescued.”
Despite the accusations, police officials stated that action was taken as soon as the complaint was filed. An official statement said, “After the FIR was lodged at 9 pm on Friday, the police immediately launched an investigation. This morning, we arrested an accused linked to the alleged rape and murder. The investigation is ongoing, and we are fully supporting the family of the deceased.” The police also warned that those involved in the arson and the destruction of important documents at the police outpost would face strict legal action.
This tragic incident has once again brought attention to the issue of delayed police response in serious cases, especially those involving women and minors. Local residents continue to demand justice, and the situation remains tense in the region.
