Kolkata, Nov. 2 -- A housewife was allegedly gang-raped by three men at a secluded location in Minakhan of North 24-Parganas after being lured to the area on the pretext of a casual outing, triggering panic and public outrage. Police have arrested two, including the prime accused, while a manhunt is underway for the third.
According to sources, the victim, a resident of Jibantala, was reportedly in a relationship with prime accused Mustakin Dewan, who allegedly invited her on a day trip. He took her to a Minakhan restaurant where his two associates were waiting, before allegedly taking her to a deserted spot and sexually assaulting her.
The victim later approached Minakhan police and lodged a complaint naming Dewan and his two associates. Acting on her statement, police conducted raids and arrested Dewan and Habibullah Sardar. The third accused, Mijanur Molla, fled and remains absconding.
The victim was sent for a mandatory medical examination, and her confidential statement was recorded under legal oversight. Police raids are continuing to trace the absconding accused.
The incident comes days after a woman who had visited a relative's house in Sonarpur was allegedly gang-raped while her husband was assaulted. Earlier, a minor girl was raped and murdered in Gaighata. The accused, Pralhad Das, was shot dead in an encounter on October 27 after allegedly opening fire on police.
An RTI report obtained by MAITC leader Saket Gokhale and published by a national daily said 2,454 rape cases and 600 murder cases were registered across West Bengal since May 1.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.