Kolkata, July 6 -- The investigation into the rape and murder of a minor girl in Baruipur gathered momentum on Monday with the arrest of the prime accused, Ananda Sardar, and another suspect, Dibakar Sardar, taking the total number of arrests to three, while preliminary forensic findings suggested the child was sexually assaulted, struck on the head with a heavy object, stuffed into a sack and thrown into a pond while she was still alive, turning the case into a crime of exceptional brutality.
Describing the incident as "a crime of unspeakable horror", Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari said he had spoken to the victim's parents and assured them that the government would meet every request made by the family.
"They will get justice and the criminals will get capital punishment. I am happy that the family has reposed its trust in the government," he said.
The breakthrough in the investigation came after the overnight interrogation of Prabhas Mondal, an alleged BJP worker, who was arrested on Sunday.
Police said his questioning led investigators to the identities and whereabouts of the two other accused. Dibakar Sardar was picked up during an overnight raid, while Ananda Sardar was tracked down in the Baruipur area on Monday morning by the six-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) headed by the Additional Superintendent of Police of Baruipur Police district. Prabhas and Dibakar were later produced before the Baruipur court, which granted them 14 days' police custody.
Police said the case, initially registered as murder, was amended on Monday to invoke relevant provisions relating to gang rape under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after the autopsy examination pointed to sexual assault.
Sources said the autopsy found a considerable quantity of water in the victim's lungs, indicating she was alive when she was thrown into the pond. The preliminary findings also reportedly noted multiple injuries, including scratches, bite marks and injuries to her private parts.
"The investigation is at a crucial stage. We are examining all the evidence. The preliminary post-mortem findings are being corroborated with other material collected during the probe. We are pursuing all available leads. CCTV footage, forensic evidence and witness statements are being examined. Those involved will be identified and arrested at the earliest," a senior police officer said.
Speaking about the case, the Chief Minister said four cases had been registered in connection with the episode - the rape-murder, the subsequent mob lynching, damage to railway property and attacks on security personnel. Alleging that railway tracks were damaged, two CRPF jawans assaulted and a police vehicle torched during the violence, Adhikari warned that those who had allegedly orchestrated the unrest after the elections would "suffer beyond their imagination". Several persons have been detained for questioning, though no arrests had been officially announced in those cases till Monday evening.
Meanwhile, prohibitory orders under Section 163 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) were imposed across the jurisdictions of Baruipur, Narendrapur and Sonarpur police stations to prevent any further deterioration of the law and order situation.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.