A human rights body in West Bengal state yesterday demanded the immediate arrest of a Border Security Force (BSF) constable on the charge of raping a Bangladeshi woman at a village in the state’s North 24 Parganas district. In a letter to New Delhi-based National Human Rights Commission (NHRC), Kirity Roy, Secretary of Banglar Manabadhikar Suraksha Mancha (MASUM), alleged the 30-year-old woman was raped by a BSF jawan in front of her 6-year old son while she was trying to cross over to Bangladesh along with her son and husband.
The woman had come from Mumbai where her husband worked as mason’s helper. They are from Marolia village of Bangladesh’s Narail district, according to the letter a copy of which is available with The Daily Star.
The incident had occurred on July 11, 2013 at around 11 am at the village Khedapara under Gaighata police station in North 24 Parganas district of West Bengal.
MASUM in its letter to NHRC said that after the incident the victim was produced before the Additional Chief Judicial Magistrate’s court by the police, from where she was sent to correctional home with her minor son and husband in violation of the Indian Home Ministry’s office memorandum which clearly stated that “if a woman or a child is found to be a victim, the victim should not be prosecuted under the Foreigners Act.
The victim woman also lodged a complaint against the BSF constable, which was also registered by the police.
Roy said “we have unconfirmed report that BSF higher ups suspended the accused BSF man but he was not arrested or remanded till date”.
The MASUM demanded a probe into the incident by an independent agency and adequate compensation for the victim.
“The victim woman with her minor son must be transferred to any care home from the correctional home (prison), her safety and security must be ensured and any interference by police and BSF must checked during the whole investigation process”, the letter demanded.
-With The Daily Star input
