Whatever be the nature of politics, a woman cannot be harassed in such a manner, National Commission for Woman (NCW) chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam, who met the woman allegedly tortured by the policemen from West Bengal’s Birbhum district, said on Saturday.
Ms. Kumaramangalam met the woman at her residence in the State’s Birbhum district and recorded her statement.
“At least I have never come across such an incident. We have recorded her statement. No matter what the politics, but such an incident should not have happened. Administration or the police whoever is responsible, such torture should never have happened,” she told journalists.
The woman, a housewife, had alleged last week that a police team accompanied by local Trinamool Congress leaders forcibly took her away to a jungle and tortured her to extract information about a relative, a local BJP leader, wanted in clashes in Parui in the district. She had also alleged that not only did the policemen beat her up but slashed her with blades and rubbed nettle leaves on her body.
The Calcutta High Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the incident and directed the police to probe it.
The members of the woman’s family claimed that they have been under constant threat by the local Trinamool Congress leader to withdraw their complaint.
“We don’t have any faith in the CID. When the perpetrators are from the police, how can we expect the CID to act against them? We want the CBI to probe it,” said the husband of the woman said.
