In a deeply troubling incident from South Dinajpur district, an 16-year-old minor tribal girl was raped by a local quack on Wednesday evening. This grievous assault occurred on the same day another minor girl from the tribal community was subjected to rape and attempted strangulation in a nearby area of the same district.

The assailant, identified as Subodh Mondal, a 53-year-old quack, reportedly invited the young woman to his home under the guise of teaching her how to conduct pathological tests. Upon her arrival, he proceeded to rape her in the chamber of his residence.

Following the incident, the district police chief, Pradeep Kumar Yadav, provided details on the immediate actions taken by the authorities. “We have conducted a medical examination of the victim. She is in a stable condition. Arrangements are being made for her counselling and judicial statements,” stated SP Yadav, indicating the steps being taken to address the victim's physical and psychological needs.

The crime led to a strong reaction from the local community. By Thursday afternoon, the victim’s family had formally registered a complaint with the police, triggering an official investigation. SP Yadav disclosed that during this investigation, it came to light that Subodh Mondal was assaulted by some locals shortly after the crime was discovered.

He further elaborated on the sequence of events that followed the community's intervention. “A mobile police team went to the spot and rescued him. He was treated at a local hospital and taken to the police station. He again fell ill and was admitted to Malda Medical College and Hospital where he is still under treatment,” explained SP Yadav.

Sources close to the administration have revealed that Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee swiftly instructed the Superintendent of Police to prepare and file a chargesheet within one week. This directive, however, has unfolded amid troubling allegations from the victim's family.

On Friday, family members voiced serious concerns, suggesting that local Trinamool Congress (TMC) leaders might be attempting to influence and intimidate the grieving family. A relative of the victim, preferring anonymity, detailed unsettling events: "First, they took the receipt copy of the complaint from them. On Friday morning, they took the parents somewhere. They returned after some time. We suspect these people are trying to put pressure on them," indicating a possible orchestrated effort to meddle in the judicial process.

Echoing the family’s fears, Khagen Murmu, the BJP MP of Malda North, who visited the victim’s residence, reported being unable to meet with the minor girl’s parents. "I could only speak to the minor girl’s elder brother and sister-in-law. Her parents were taken away by some Trinamool leaders and we fear they are trying to save the accused," Murmu stated, suggesting a manipulative maneuver by the ruling party to shield the perpetrator.

In defense, TMC leaders strongly denied these accusations. Abdur Rahim Boxi, the district TMC president, countered the allegations by stating the involvement of the minor girl's family was purely benign and supportive. "The minor girl is in a government home and the parents wanted to meet her. We simply helped them. The accused quack is a BJP worker and thus, the BJP MP is trying to divert people’s attention. The accused should be punished," Boxi asserted, shifting the narrative to accuse the opposition party of politicizing the tragic event.

Adding to the political drama, the state deployed Birbaha Hansda, the Minister of State for Forests and a prominent tribal leader, to Malda. Hansda’s visit on Friday evening was framed as an initiative directly from the Chief Minister and the TMC’s national general secretary, Abhishek Banerjee. "I am here as per instructions of the chief minister and our party’s national general secretary Abhishek Banerjee. I have proposed to the family that I want to take the minor girl with me for proper care of her health and education. The BJP, on the other hand, is trying to politicize the issue," she announced, emphasizing the state's purported commitment to the victim’s welfare while critiquing the opposition’s motives.

The case of sexual abuse involving tribal minors in Habibpur has now taken a distinct political turn, with high-profile visits and accusations intensifying the situation. Birbaha Hansda, the Minister of State for Forests with independent responsibility, traveled from Kolkata today to visit the affected tribal family. Accompanying her were significant political figures, including Trinamool district president and Maltipur MLA Abdur Rahim Bakso. Concurrently, the local BJP MP Khagen Murmu also made his way to the victim’s residence, signaling an escalating political engagement from both sides.

Local political observers note that the ruling Trinamool Congress is currently facing scrutiny over the RG tax issue, which has seen widespread media coverage and public outcry. This sensitivity was heightened when President Draupadi Murmu publicly expressed his dismay over another unrelated incident involving the tragic circumstances of a medical student. In a defense, during the Trinamool Chhatra Parishad Foundation Day, prominent Trinamool leaders including Mamata Banerjee and Abhishek Banerjee alleged that the BJP was fueling the protests surrounding the RG tax controversy.

Amidst these political controversies, the sexual assaults of two tribal minors in Malda and South Dinajpur have occurred, drawing significant attention. Trinamool strategists believe these incidents could amplify public protests, which perhaps motivated the decision to send Minister Hansda to Habibpur. However, this move has not been without controversy.

BJP MP Khagen Murmu voiced significant concerns regarding the handling of the case by local Trinamool leaders. “I came to talk to the (minor) girl's parents. Talked to his grandparents. Shortly before we reached the village, the district Trinamool president and the block president came and took the minor girl's parents and left. I heard that the accused doctor was teaching the (minor) girl medicine. The girl's father has not yet recovered from the suddenness of the incident. Talked to the girl's parents this morning too. They want justice. And took them away? Trinamool is trying to cover up this incident with money," Murmu complained, suggesting a deliberate effort by the Trinamool to manipulate the situation.

Khagen Murmu, the local BJP MP, expressed a strong sentiment that reflects the community's growing frustration and anger. "But this incident can never be covered up. The people of the village want to surround the police station. If necessary, I will be with them. Women are being sexually assaulted all over the state. The victims are not getting justice. We want the accused to be punished severely. And the Trinamool Money wants to buy everyone. But can money buy a victim!” Murmu's statement highlights a deep distrust in the local administration's ability to deliver justice, amidst allegations of financial influence from the ruling party.

In contrast, Trinamool district president and Maltipur MLA Abdur Rahim Bakso described his visit to the victim's house as a response to a deeply tragic event. "Extremely tragic incident. A 53-year-old man called this minor to his house and tortured him. Meanwhile, the police promptly arrested the accused. The (minor) girl is being taken to the Malda District Court today to give a secret statement before the judge. Parents are with him. We went to the victim's house. We do not want to do any politics on this incident. Locals are angry about this incident. There is also tension in the area. We are also demanding that the convict be hanged." Bakso attempted to convey a sense of urgency and appropriateness in the government's response, yet his remarks were overshadowed by the community's palpable tension and anger.

Further complicating matters, Bakso referenced a politicized narrative regarding the accused's affiliations, suggesting a shifting of blame across political lines. "The chief minister has already spoken to us about the matter. That party is led by minister Virbaha Hansda. They will also go to the victim's house. The person who tortured the minor was earlier with CPIM. Now he is with BJP. The MP there is saying, we are the (minor) girl's father. 'I have hidden the mother somewhere.. That idiot should have taken the girl to a home.. The police are watching the whole thing.'"

In the heart of the escalating crisis in Habibpur involving the sexual abuse of tribal minors, Forest Minister Birbaha Hansda made a publicized visit, reportedly under the directives of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. Hansda said, "We have come here today on the instructions of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. I want to meet the victim's family members. I will talk to them. I heard that BJP is doing this. I do not want to put any political color on this incident. I want the (minor) girl to have a healthy life in the future and the culprit to be given the strictest punishment. Assembly is sitting on September 2. The Chief Minister has already announced that a bill related to rape is being brought there. I want those who do such a thing to be severely punished. Seeing the punishment that makes people afraid to do such things. Such work should be stopped in future.” 

Despite these assertions of governmental action and concern, the prevailing sentiment among the public reflects a starkly different reality. There is a palpable sense of distrust and frustration towards the state's ability to effectively address and reduce the frequency of such violent crimes. The continued occurrence of rape cases, coupled with what many perceive as only superficial responses by political figures, suggests a systemic failure in protecting the most vulnerable sections of society.

Critics argue that while the rhetoric from state officials speaks of harsh punishments and legislative changes, the ground reality remains unaltered with many in West Bengal living in fear. The frequency of these incidents, seemingly woven into the daily fabric of life, raises serious questions about the effectiveness of the state machinery in enforcing laws and safeguarding its citizens. The disconnect between governmental promises and actual improvements in public safety and justice is increasingly evident, casting doubt on the commitment to genuine reform and the prioritization of political over practical responses to a deeply rooted issue.

Blockade and Strike: Tribal Community Demands Justice in South Dinajpur

In a potent display of outrage and demand for justice, hundreds of tribals armed with traditional weapons including bows and arrows, converged on the streets of the Daulatpur area along NH512 in South Dinajpur. Their grievance was fueled by a recent horrific incident where a minor tribal girl was raped and nearly strangled by a youth, identified as the son of a local Trinamool leader. This alarming event prompted a forceful response from the tribal community, who staged a blockade of the highway for approximately three hours.

The incident that sparked this massive public outcry occurred on Wednesday night. According to reports, while the (minor) girl was alone in her room, the accused forcibly entered and committed the heinous act. He attempted to strangle her but was compelled to flee when the girl's mother was alerted by the commotion. The police managed to apprehend the perpetrator later on.

The protest saw the tribals strategically blocking the highway at around 12:30 pm, chanting slogans that echoed their demand for stringent action against the accused. The blockade effectively paralyzed vehicular movement along the route, drawing immediate attention to the severity of their grievances. Police officers were dispatched to the scene and engaged in discussions with the protestors. It was not until around 3:30 pm that the blockade was lifted, following negotiations.

Adding to their direct action, the tribals, represented by the Adivasi Joutha Mancha—an apex body of tribal organizations in South Dinajpur—declared a 12-hour general strike across the district scheduled for the following Monday. "The strike has been called in protest of the heinous incident. A similar incident has been reported from Malda district and we are protesting it," stated a representative of the Mancha.