December 18, 2024 18:07 (IST)
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We are not satisfied: Victim's family on Kamduni rape verdict
Kolkata, Jan 28 (IBNS): The family members of Kamduni rape victim said that they were not satisfied with the verdict, which was served by a sessions court in Kolkata on Thursday.
After two and half years, a 21-year-old girl was gang-raped and murdered while returning home from college at Kamduni village in West Bengal's North 24 Parganas district, a sessions court in Kolkata on Thursday found six of the eight accused guilty in the case, which kicked off a political firestorm, and acquitted the rest two.
Victim's family members and members of the Kamduni Pratibadi Mancha (KPM) said that how did two accused get acquittal, after being named in charge sheet, in this case.
Victim's father on Thursday told IBNS outside the courtroom, "I will never get by daughter back. I want the capital punishment for all accused. They all should be given death sentence. All eight criminals should be punished. How did two of them get acquittal?! I will move to higher court against it."
Meanwhile, one accused- Ansar Ali Mollah- allegedly threatened the victim's brother in court premises.
Victim's brother told IBNS, "One accused threatened me today and two others have been acquitted. Now, we are concerned about our security."
On June 7 evening in 2013, a BA second year student was allegedly gang-raped and murdered by few local miscreants inside an isolated compound at Kamduni village, while she was returning home from college after an examination. Her brutalized body was found on the next day.
Nine were arrested in connection with this case and charged under IPC sections 376D, 376A, 302, 341, 201, 120B and 109. One of them- Gopal Naskar (65)- died of fever and septicaemia on Aug 1 last year in custody during the trial while the other eight are in judicial custody.
Demanding justice and exemplary punishment for the culprits, the Kamduni residents began their protest from the morning of June 8 in 2013 and the Kamduni Pratibadi Mancha (KPM) was formed which strengthened the protest movement later.
West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee met the brothers of the victim on June 12 and offered a government job to the elder brother and also promised to bear the cost of treatment of the victim's parents and the cost of education of the younger brother. Refusing the CM's help, the victim's brothers demanded capital punishment for the accused.
The Chief Minister's visit to the village and family also created a controversy when she dubbed some protesting women as those being linked to Maoists and rival communists.
The year-long hearing in the trial of the case ended earlier at the city sessions court in Kolkata on Dec 22.
The Additional District Sessions Judge (II) of the Bankshall Court in Kolkata, Sanchita Sarkar on Thursday found six accused guilty under several IPC sections. Three of them, Saiful Ali Mollah, Ansar Ali Mollah and Amin Ali were found guilty under IPC sections 376A, 376D, 302, 102B and 201 and the rest trio -Imanul Hoque, Vola Naskar and Aminul Islam- will be punished under IPC sections 376A, 376D, 102B and 201. Saiful Ali Mollah was slapped more IPC sections- 109 and 342- by the court.
The rest two accused in this case- Rafik Gaji and Noor Ali- were acquitted for absence of enough evidences against them.
The judge further declared that the quantum punishment would be pronounced on Friday, after an argument.
After the announcement of judgement, one protester of KPM, Mausumi Kayal told IBNS, "Our chief minister promised us to give justice in one and half month. But we have got the verdict after two and half hours of the incident, which is not satisfying. I don't believe how the court released two accused. Kamduni villagers security will be in front of a big question mark, when these criminals will move freely."
When all opposition parties were condemning the court's decision to acquit two accused in this case, ruling Trinamool Congress (TMC) Secretary General and state's Education Minister Partha Chatterjee said, "Honourable court's decision is the final. Let's see what punishment will be served by the honourable judge. Who are not satisfied with this judgment, can move to higher court."
However, the public prosecutor in this case, Anindya Routh told IBNS, "We have decided nothing yet about our next step in this lawsuit. Two accused have got acquittal. This is very unfortunate. We will definitely move against it. Tomorrow during hearing, we will appeal to the court for maximum punishment for all accused."
(Reporting by Deepayan Sinha)
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