By Anupam Mishra, Amit Bhardwaj: A minor girl was allegedly raped and murdered in Kaliaganj in Uttar Dinajpur district of West Bengal. The incident triggered clashes between the locals and the police personnel. Even as the situation remained tense in the town, a video of cops dragging the minor girl’s body has led to political furor.

A video, which has gone viral on social media platforms, shows cops taking away the body of the minor girl. However, BJP leaders slammed the Bengal Police for “insensitively dragging” the body of the young girl.

“In this video, the body West Bengal Police is insensitively dragging is that of a minor rape and murder victim from the Rajbongshi community in Uttar Dinajpur’s Kaliaganj. Such haste is often seen when the purpose is to eliminate or dilute evidence and cover up the crime,” BJP leader Amit Malviya said.

National Commission for Protection of Child Rights chairperson Priyank Kanoongo said that he will visit the town to investigate the matter. He also said that the state government was informed about the incident on Friday but no response has been received yet.

“The police are accused of humiliating the dead body of the girl who was gang-raped and murdered in North Dinajpur, West Bengal. I am going there today to investigate so that the girl child gets justice and the culprits punished. The state government was informed yesterday, no reply has been received,” the child rights panel chief said.

The National Commission for Women has also taken cognizance of the video shared on Twitter that shows the police dragging the body of the victim.

“The National Commission for Women has come across a Twitter post wherein a video has been shared alleging that a minor girl was raped and murdered by a group of men in Uttar Dinajpurs, Kaliaganj, West Bengal. Further, in the video Police can be seen dragging the body of the victim ruthlessly and inappropriately,” a statement by the NCW said.

It added, “Considering the gravity of the matter, Chairperson Rekha Sharma has written to the Director General of Police, West Bengal to personally intervene in the matter and ensure that a fair and time-bound investigation is conducted in the matter. The Commission has also sought that an FIR under relevant sections must be invoked, if the allegations levelled are found to be true. Also, stringent action must be taken against erring Police officers for dragging the body inappropriately.”

BJP CLAIMS THEIR LEADERS STOPPED FROM VISITING GIRL’S FAMILY

BJP leader Amit Malviya also slammed the Mamata Banerjee-led government and alleged that the authorities stopped BJP leaders from visiting the family of the victim, while the TMC leaders were allowed to meet them.

“Shockingly, Mamata Banerjee’s administration didn’t allow local BJP MLAs Satyendra Nath Ray (from the Rajbongshi community) and Budhrai Tudu to visit the victim’s family but let Uttar Dinajpur TMC President Kanaia Lal Agarwal meet them. Who are they trying to save here?” Amit Malviya said.

BJP’s Suvendu Adhikari also slammed the ruling government and said, “Are there 2 sets of rules for ‘ex-AI’TC and Bengal BJP in WB? West Bengal Police, why did you allow Uttar Dinajpur TMC President Shri Kanaia Lal Agarwal to visit the victim’s family in Kaliaganj but obstructed BJP MLAs Satyendra Nath Ray (from Rajbongshi community) and Budhrai Tudu?”

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