A four-member team of the National Commission for Women (NCW) on Saturday visited the convent school at Ranaghat in West Bengal’s Nadia district where a 71-year-old nun was raped a week ago, and raised questions about the State government’s failure to arrest the accused.
“The pictures of the perpetrators are there on the camera, the faces are seen but still no arrests, why? This is one question that needs to be answered,” an NCW member Shamina Shafiq told journalists.
The NCW team spoke to officials of the Convent of Jesus and Mary High School and the police. The 71-year-old nun however, had left the city after she was discharged from the hospital on Friday.
“This should not happen to anyone let alone a nun who is there to serve humanity. It is shocking and heart-wrenching,” Ms. Shafiq added.
The NCW team also expressed concern over the frequent incidents of assault on women in West Bengal. “We have asked the police what preventive measures have been taken,” a member added.
Earlier, the Prime Minister’s Office and the National Human Rights Commission had sought reports from the State on the incident, which has triggered outrage across the country.
Under mounting pressure, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on March 18 handed over probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation.
The State’s Criminal Investigation Department has, however, continued with its probe in the case. A CID team visited the school during the day and spoke to the authorities. The team also tried to ascertain whether electricity supply to the school was cut in the early hours of March 14 when the incident occurred.
Meanwhile, there are reports that locals involved in petty crimes have been detained for several days by the West Bengal police in Nadia and other adjoining districts. While the police denied these reports, rights activists claimed the police are indulging in excesses.
“If anyone is found guilty, they should be arrested and produced before the judiciary. There is no scope for such illegal detention. What has happened is very unfortunate,” rights activist Ranajit Sur said.
