Northern Bengal reels from a brutal crime in Mekhliganj, Cooch Behar, where police arrested 63-year-old Shemutun Mia for raping a minor girl he called ‘granddaughter.’ The Sunday disclosure follows a Thursday attack, amplified by violent local backlash.
The Class 6 victim was at Jamaldah riverbank gathering wood when the neighbor approached kindly. Turning sinister, he flashed a bladed weapon, assaulted her savagely. A vigilant local woman rescued her, rushing the sobbing child home.
Days of silence ensued, cowed by the accused’s menaces. Saturday saw residents propel the family to police, triggering the arrest at Mekhliganj station.
The girl’s poignant account: ‘Drying clothes by the water, Dadi Ji beckoned for firewood. He threatened with something sharp and violated me.’
Police update: ‘Arrest made; charges under child protection laws.’
Outrage manifested in Saturday night’s chaos—highway choked with tire fires, stones raining on forces. In-charge Mohammad Shahbaz took light hits. Batons flew, several protesters nabbed as calm returned haltingly.
This saga demands reflection: How do threats paralyze justice? Why must communities bridge police gaps? The arrest is step one; conviction, support for the survivor, and reforms to shield vulnerable kids from predatory kin are imperative. Bengal’s resolve will be tested.