Mahua Moitra
'No word to describe the horrible incident': Mahua Moitra condemns minor's gang-rape after Mamata remark sparks row
Kolkata/IBNS: Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra on Tuesday condemned the alleged gang-rape of a minor girl at Hanskhali in Nadia district of West Bengal who later died, assuring the victim's family that the “full extent of the law will be implemented” to punish the culprits contradicting her party supremo and Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's remark on the same.
Her stern remarks came a day after Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee waded into a political row suggesting that the girl could be in a relationship with the accused.
Moitra, known for her fiery speeches in the parliament, met the victim's family at Hanskhali.
Speaking to the media, she said: “There is no word to describe the horrible incident. Parents are still in shock. I have assured the family that the full extent of the law would be implemented to bring the perpetrators to justice.”
She also lauded the police for their "prompt action" in arresting the accused, who is the son of a local TMC leader, and added that "police have done a good job so far".
Taking quite an opposite stand from her party supremo, Moitra said it does not matter if the girl was in a relationship with the accused.
“The boy is an adult and if he has had a sexual relationship with a minor, then that is rape according to the law and he will be prosecuted accordingly,” she said.
According to reports, the minor girl had joined the birthday party of local TMC leader Samar Gayali's son Brajagopal Gayali at his place on Apr 4 (Monday) and in the late evening, some locals brought her home with severe sickness.
Family members of the 14-year-old girl were also allegedly "threatened" not to take her to any government or private hospital. They were also advised to take the girl to a local "quack doctor".
Later on Apr 5 (Tuesday) early morning, the girl died at her home. Her family members alleged that she had been gang-raped by the TMC leader's son and his friends at the birthday party and she had died of excessive bleeding.
It was also alleged that her body was "cremated under pressure" with kerosene at a local 'unregistered' crematorium, without autopsy, medical test or even any death certificate.
Reacting to the incident, Banerjee, while speaking at a government programme, said, "The police are yet to understand the cause of her death. I had asked them. Will you call it rape or was she pregnant? Was it (the fallout of) a love affair?" "Have you enquired about these?"
Banerjee's remark has sparked a political row in West Bengal with the opposition as well as common people slamming her 'insensitive' statement.
The Bengal CM had also blamed the victim's family for lodging the complaint five days after the incident took place.
"The girl died on Apr 5, and the police complaint was registered on Apr 10! If they had a complaint, then why did not they lodge it immediately after the incident!" she said, adding: "The body has been cremated without informing anyone! Now how would the police investigate the matter!"
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