There is tension in Basta and Jaleswar area since Thursday after a 20-year old girl was allegedly molested by three youths. The incident occurred on Thursday provoking unrest in the area. Irate villagers gheraoed the Basta police station, demanding immediate arrest of the culprits.
The police assured to take action within three days. According to sources, the victim belongs to Dhatpura under Santoshpur panchayat. While she was filling water from a water point, the trio youths of the same village first had an altercation with her and then they took her forcibly with them, molested and made an attempt to rape her.
Meanwhile, the Basta police on Friday arrested an accused. He was identified as Bikartan Das (35). The rest accused were absconding. Basta IIC KC Pallai said, “One of the accused has been arrested and others are absconding. A case has been registered under sections 265, 354,376/511 of IPC. Efforts are on to arrest other absconders.”
Meanwhile, two rival groups of a particular political party have aggravated the situation by coming onto a war path. There could be more violent incidents. A group of villagers led by social worker Sudarsan Das demanded justice for the victim. Das said, “The police action is not transparent and appeared to be biased for ulterior reasons. Till now they have not arrested any of the three main accused persons.
Bikartan is father of Ramesh, who is one of main accused. last night the police registered a case against five persons who supported the cause of the victim. Therefore, there is an apprehension among the villagers whether they would get justice at all.”