On 4 April 2022, a 14-year-old girl was raped in Hanskhali of Nadia district, West Bengal, India. The main accused are Brojogopali Gayali and his friends. Notably they are associated with TMC.[3]
| Date | April 4, 2022 |
|---|---|
| Venue | Hanskhali, West Bengal, India |
| Type | Crime against women, Gang rape |
| Deaths | 1 (victim) |
| Arrests | 3 (up to 17 April 2022)[1] |
| Suspects | Brojogopali Gayali (alias Sohail Gayali)[2] Prabhakar Poddar[3] |
| Charges | Alleged gang-rape, destruction of evidence, conspiracy and aggravated sex (under IPC and Pocso Act) |
Incident and allegations
editA 14-year-old girl,[4] who was a student of class 9, went to a birthday party at 4.00 pm on April 4 in the house of Brojogopal Gayali (alias Sohail Gayali), son of AITC leader Samarendra Gayali. She accused there she was gang-raped by Sohail. After the party she was covered with blood. With help of other pedestrians she somehow reached home at 7.30 pm and had headache and extreme pain.[5] She was bleeding but his father accused that Sohail had come to their home and threatened to set their house on fire if they dared to take the profusely bleeding girl to the police station or the hospital. She bled to death. Within 30 minutes of her daughter's death, Sohail along with other TMC men attacked their home and again threatened to kill them, pointing a gun towards them. They took away the body by wrapping it in a mat on which she was lying. Her mother accused, “They didn't allow us to touch the body. They set it on fire in front of my husband and threatened us with dire consequences if we raised our voice or informed others. We had no option but to mourn the death silently.”[6][4] They (12 men[7]) took the body to the cemetery and burned the body. The villagers accused them "trying hard to burn a body”. A villager says, “They were in a hurry to burn the body quickly but did not bring wood with them to set up a pyre. They frantically collected dry wood and dry leaves from a nearby bush. But as that was not enough to set up the pyre, they doused the body with kerosene to burn it.”[6]
Her parents lodged police complaint on April 9.[8]
Reaction and role of the TMC Government
editMamata Banerjee, chief minister of West Bengal questioned the rape. She commented, "This story they are showing that a minor has died due to rape, Will you call it rape? Was she pregnant or had a love affair? I was told the girl had an affair with the boy.”[9][10] She was heavily criticized for this comment from the intellectual society as well as public. National Commission for Women (NCW) chairperson Rekha Sharma and West Bengal Democratic Woman's Association leader Kaninika Bose slammed her for the comment.[11] Even, Asha Devi, mother Delhi rape victim Nirbhaya stated that she should not be CM if she had such mentality.[12]
Multiple allegations were formed against the ruling TMC/AITC Government. Opposition leaders accused TMC for the broken law and order condition in state for which the rape case is proof. Also CPI(M) demanded answer on how the girl was cremated without any record.[13]
Investigation
editCalcutta High Court has directed CBI to investigate the case.[14] On 13 April, the West Bengal state agencies handed over the documents of the Hanskhali rape-murder case to a 3-member CBI team. The CBI is scheduled to submit the report to the Calcutta High Court on May 2. The CBI on 13 April filed an FIR for gang-rape, destruction of evidence, conspiracy and aggravated sex of IPC and Pocso Act.[6][3] Sohail Gayali was arrested by the officials. Another one, who was present in the party a and is friend of the main suspect was also arrested.[8] Responding to the accusation, additional superintendent of police, Ranaghat police district, Rupantar Sengupta, said: “We are trying to find out who intimidated the girl's parents as stated in a complaint. At the same time, the official status of the crematorium was being examined.”[6]
According to Karuna, the incharge of the crematorium said no body was burnt there for many years. On 5 April, the body was taken there but before any introspection the body was burnt as they were in hurry and could not wait. The Police took Karuna to the additional chief judicial magistrate's court in Ranaghat where she recorded her statement.[6]
CBI arrested the prime suspect Brojogopal Gayali under section 376 (3)/302/201/34 of IPC and 6 Pocso Act and took into custody of 14 days.
Political and public response
editThe opposition parties like the Left parties and the BJP heavily criticized the incident and staged protests in different parts of the State.[3] The CPIM state secretary Mohammed Salim said the incident as the "shadow of the Hathras rape" on Bengal.[13]
West Bengal Governor, Jagdeep Dhankhar met Chief Secretary and Director General of West Bengal Police at the Raj Bhawan on April 10. He urged the Police "to take steps to curb the rising crimes against women; improve the worrisome law and order situation, and respond to pending issues”.[3]
Bharatiya Janata Party created a five-member central team to enquire into the incident, which consisted Sreerupa Mitra Chaudhury, BJP MLA from English Bazar, MP Rekha Verma and Uttar Pradesh minister Baby Rani Maurya.[15] TMC accused it as an attempt "to influence the CBI probe".[5]
Aftermath
editOn 15 April, on which day the rituals were to be done, the priests in the village did not came. Observers claimed that they were being stigmatised by some sections of society because she was allegedly raped. Local CPIM leaders arranged for a priest who finally performed the rituals in the evening. The priest Ashok Banerjee claimed he was also afraid due to TMC.[16]
References
edit- ^ "Third arrest made in Hanskhali rape case". The Hindu. April 16, 2022 – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "CBI Team Visits Accused's Home In Hanskhali Rape-Murder Case | Nation". April 14, 2022.
- ^ a b c d e Singh, Shiv Sahay (April 13, 2022). "Bengal rape victim's father speaks of threats". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ a b "Silence shrouds Bengal village as Nadia rape victim's family lives in fear". India Today. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ a b "Nadia Gang-rape Case: BJP's 4-member Central Team to Reach Hanskhali, Will Visit Crime Site Shortly". News18. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ a b c d e "Hanskhali rape case: Girl's body forcibly taken away, says father". www.telegraphindia.com. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ "Hanskhali Rape Case Update : 'মেয়েটির দেহ দাহ করেছিল ১২ জন,' কী ঘটেছিল সে দিন হাঁসখালিতে?". Aaj Tak বাংলা (in Bengali).
- ^ a b "Second arrest made in Hanskhali rape case". ThePrint. 2022-04-12. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ Sinha, Shreya (April 12, 2022). "If Mamata Banerjee is so insensitive about rape, she doesn't deserve to be CM: Nirbhaya's mother". India Today. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ Kundu, Indrajit; Mondal, Rittick (April 11, 2022). "Was she raped or was she pregnant after affair? Mamata Banerjee over 14-year-old's rape, murder". India Today. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ "CPI(M) women's wing seek apology from Mamata for 'insensitive' remarks on Hanskhali rape". April 13, 2022.
- ^ Sinha, Shreya (April 12, 2022). "If Mamata Banerjee is so insensitive about rape, she doesn't deserve to be CM: Nirbhaya's mother". India Today.
- ^ a b "12-hour bandh by BJP peaceful, rape accused remanded in 14-day cop custody". www.thestatesman.com. 12 April 2022.
- ^ Singh, Shiv Sahay (April 12, 2022). "Calcutta High Court directs CBI probe in Hanskhali rape, death case". The Hindu – via www.thehindu.com.
- ^ "CBI gathers proof in Hanskhali rape, murder case; BJP team attacks TMC". Hindustan Times. 2022-04-16. Retrieved 2022-04-15.
- ^ "Bengal Fatal Gang-rape: Family Says Hanskhali Village Priest Ditched Girl's Last Rites". News18. 15 April 2022. Retrieved 2022-04-15.