Alipurduar, July 16 -- A 55-year-old man was arrested on charges of allegedly raping a minor girl in a village under the jurisdiction of the Jateswar police outpost of Falakata Police Station, triggering widespread outrage that led an agitated mob to set his house on fire on Wednesday evening.
According to police, the incident occurred around 9 pm when enraged residents allegedly torched the accused's house. A large police contingent rushed to the village after receiving information about the violence, while a fire tender from the Birpara Fire Station was pressed into service to douse the blaze. However, the fire spread rapidly, reducing the house and its contents to ashes.
The incident has created tension in the area, prompting police to deploy additional forces to maintain law and order.
A case has been registered against the accused under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The minor survivor has been admitted to a government hospital for medical examination.
District Superintendent of Police Amit Kumar Shaw said: "The accused's house was set on fire amidst the tension surrounding the incident. Additional police forces have been deployed in the area to bring the situation under control."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.