West Bengal: Three arrested in Baruipur minor's rape-murder

Three persons were arrested, and two others were detained as Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari acted quickly, ordering action into the rape and murder of a minor girl a few days ago, leading to massive commotion at Baruipur, a southern suburb of Kolkata.

The 12-year-old girl was allegedly waylaid, gang-raped and then murdered before being disposed of in a nearby pond, sources said. The incident led to a massive uproar, with some local hooligans blocking the roads and damaging police vehicles on Sunday. Some police men and central force jawans too were injured in the skirmish.

“I have ensured that the culprits were arrested … and we will ensure that they all get the maximum punishment … but also we will not spare those who destroyed public property and tried to damage train lines like during the CAA movement,” Adhikari said, adding, “a person was lynched during the agitation, which too will not be tolerated.” His Cabinet colleague Agnimitra Paul too condemned the incident and blamed the hooligans for destroying public property and “trying to give it a communal angle.

Meanwhile, former Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Monday took out a candlelight procession near her Kalighat residence in protest against the rape and murder of the victim. She alleged that she was on Sunday put under house arrest so as to prevent her from visiting Baruipur.

“A large posse of police was posted outside my residence so that I cannot venture out … is it a house arrest … I want to ask this Government,” she said.