Violent Protests Erupt in West Bengal After Alleged Rape, Murder of Teenager

New Delhi (India), April 22, 2023: Fresh violence has erupted in Kaliyaganj, West Bengal, amid public anger over the alleged rape and murder of a teenager, whose body was discovered on Friday. Law enforcement officials were forced to use tear gas to quell the unrest, and additional forces have been deployed to maintain order.

Balurghat MP Sukanta Majumdar, who also serves as the state BJP chief, has criticized the police’s handling of the investigation, alleging that they are ineffectual.

The BJP has seized upon the incident to attack the ruling Trinamool Congress party, accusing the police of obstructing their efforts to meet with the victim’s family and suppressing evidence. In contrast, police sources maintain that they had to extract the victim’s body from a potentially volatile situation to preserve evidence and conduct an autopsy promptly.

The teenager’s body was found on Friday morning on the banks of a pond in Kaliyaganj town, which sparked a local protest calling for justice. When the police arrived to recover the body, they were met with violent opposition, including stone-throwing. In response, the police fired tear gas to disperse the crowd.

Police officials claim that they had to ensure the victim’s body was retrieved without any contamination to preserve the integrity of the investigation. They have also formed a medical board to investigate the matter thoroughly. Meanwhile, the National Commission for Protection of Child Rights has taken notice of the situation and will send a team to conduct an inquiry.