In a shocking incident from northern Bengal’s Cooch Behar district, a 63-year-old man has been arrested for allegedly raping a minor girl in Mekhliganj. The police confirmed the arrest on Sunday, highlighting yet another case of child sexual abuse in rural India.
The victim, a sixth-grade student, had gone to the riverbank in Jamaldah area to collect firewood on Thursday. According to police sources, the accused, identified as Shemutun Mia, lured the girl by calling her affectionately ‘Dadi Ji’ and then threatened her with a sharp weapon before committing the heinous act.
A local woman intervened, rescuing the girl and escorting her back home. The child bravely recounted her ordeal to media personnel, stating she was hanging clothes to dry when the man called her over, promising firewood, only to assault her brutally.
Despite the trauma, the family delayed reporting due to threats from the accused, a neighbor. Local residents eventually rallied, taking the victim and her family to Jamaldah police outpost that evening to file a formal complaint. Police swiftly acted, arresting Shemutun and booking him at Mekhliganj police station.
A senior Mekhliganj police officer stated, ‘The accused is in custody, and a case has been registered against him under relevant sections.’
The incident sparked outrage among locals. On Saturday night, protesters blocked the state highway in Jamaldah by burning tires and pelting stones, disrupting traffic for hours. Mekhliganj police station in-charge Mohammad Shahbaz sustained minor injuries in the stone-pelting. As tensions escalated, police resorted to lathi charge to disperse the crowd and detained several agitators.
This case underscores the persistent vulnerability of minor girls in remote areas and the community’s demand for stricter law enforcement and faster justice. Authorities have assured a thorough investigation, but questions remain about preventive measures in such high-risk zones.