Author: Anupam Dasgupta
Publication: The Telegraph
Date: April 15, 2004
URL: http://www.telegraphindia.com/1040415/asp/bengal/story_3129364.asp
The state human rights commission
has hauled up the Jalpaiguri police for "inaction" over the assault on
a 22-year-old pregnant woman by two men said to have links with Citu in
January.
Lakshmi Sahani was repeatedly kicked
on her lower abdomen by the two men near the New Jalpaiguri station on
January 25. Her fault: she had supported her father when he protested against
a hole being dug on the ground dangerously close to an electric pole. That
was enough to invite the wrath of the two men, who wanted to teach her
a "lesson".
Sahani's family twice went to the
New Jalpaiguri police with a complaint, but the officials allegedly refused
to lodge even a general diary.
Determined to get justice, the Sahanis
lodged a complaint with the State Human Rights Commission in which they
named Narayan Adhikari and Gopal Adhikari as the assailants. Both are said
to be close to a local heavyweight of Citu, the labour arm of the CPM.
Taking cognizance of the complaint,
the commission wrote to the Jalpaiguri superintendent of police on March
27, 2004, and sought a detailed report. The commission also ordered New
Jalpaiguri and Bhaktinagar police stations to ensure that the guilty are
brought to book without delay.
"Why was the complaint not registered
by the police station? Why was the role of the two men named by the complainants
not investigated," the letter says.
New Jalpaiguri circle inspector
Pradip Dutta told The Telegraph today: "We sent our reply to the state
human rights commission yesterday. In our reply, we have furnished all
relevant details of the incident. We are also carrying out special raids
to arrest those who are guilty."
Dutta added that a local inquiry
conducted by a sub-inspector had indicated that a verbal altercation, and
not an assault, had taken place. Sources said the commission has also asked
the police to fully explore the "Citu links" of the accused.
"The commission had asked us to
furnish details of the political affiliations of the two accused. It also
wants to know whether punitive measures were initiated against the duo,"
said a senior Bhaktinagar police officer.
"The way in which the pregnant girl
was kicked repeatedly in front of her parents was simply inhuman. They
would have killed her had we not intervened in time," said a relative of
the Sahanis.
