MALDA: A Class IV student was raped by a trader in Malda’s Harishchandrapur on Friday, the eve of Kanyashree Divas. The accused was thrashed by furious villagers and had to be rescued by the police. Two cops were injured in the clash and a huge force deployed to control the situation.
Nazrul Islam alias Bhola of Chandipur village would illegally buy rice from the poor in the area, who received it from ration shops. He would hoard it and later sell it at a high price.
On Friday evening, the family of a daily labourer approached Islam to sell their rice. Islam agreed but insisted on weighing it in his godown. As the labourer’s two daughters went to the godown with the rice, he made the younger girl wait and took the older one inside. He allegedly raped the child and forced Rs 350 into her hands, before fleeing the scene.
Bleeding, the girl returned home crying and told her mother what had happened. The news soon spread and a mob dragged Islam out of his home and assaulted him. A force from Harishchandrapur Police Station reached the spot to rescue him, but angry villagers also attacked the cops. An ASI and a civic volunteer were wounded as stones were thrown at them.
A huge force led by the SDPO arrived to control the mob and Islam was arrested. He was charged under the POCSO Act and produced in court on Saturday. He was remanded in jail custody for 14 days.
Inspector in-charge Sanjoy Das said: “The situation is under control and the girl was admitted to Chanchal Sub Divisional Hospital. Her statement will be recorded after she recovers.”
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)
