Malda, July 6 -- On the heels of the Baruipur incident where a minor girl was gang-raped and murdered, a class six student, aged 12 years, has allegedly been raped by a neighbour youth in an area under the English Bazar Police Station on Sunday. The police acted swiftly and arrested the youth from Purnia, Bihar, following technical support. The accused was produced before the court on Monday. The minor is undergoing treatment in the Malda Medical College and Hospital (MMCH).
According to the police and sources, the minor and the accused youth, Sheikh Rabiul, 30, live nearby in the same village under English Bazar police station. On Sunday, Rabiul was home alone and lured the victim to his house, where she was allegedly raped by the accused. The girl later returned home and fell ill, which prompted the parents to bring her to MMCH for treatment.
In the meantime, the accused, Rabiul, in an attempt to flee, reached Purnia in Bihar. Police, being informed about the matter and based on the complaint lodged by the parents of the victim, tracked down Rabiul with the help of technical support and arrested him in Purnia.
On the other hand, the incident led to widespread disappointment and anger among the locals and a police picket has been deployed in the heated area to maintain law and order, though no disturbance has been reported.
Additional Superintendent of Police Maqsood Hasan said: "A special team arrested the accused from Bihar immediately after receiving the complaint and the police are working as per POCSO Act guidelines to pacify the investigation and trial process."
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.