Huge protests after Bengal girl’s body found in canal, family alleges rape

The body of an 11-year-old girl, who had been missing since Friday night, was found in a canal in West Bengal’s South 24 Parganas district. The family of the girl and the villagers have alleged that she was raped before her body was thrown into the canal. Massive protests broke out in the district following the discovery of the girl’s body.
According to reports, the girl was returning home from her tuition classes when she went missing. Her family, deeply concerned, approached the local police station to file a complaint. However, they allege that instead of receiving assistance, they faced harassment from the police.
Upon the discovery of the girl’s body this morning, local residents gathered in large numbers, expressing their outrage over the incident. They accused the police of failing to take timely action, which they believe contributed to this tragic outcome.
Several videos surfaced online, showing a group of villagers, mostly women, leading protests on the streets with sticks, demanding action against the accused. Another video shows locals surrounding and confronting officials after police failed to register the complaint on time.

A video also shows villagers clashing with police officials, vandalising a police station with sticks and pelting stones. The locals also smashed bikes and other public property in anger.
BJP leader Amit Malviya, via an X post, criticised the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government over the police’s failure to register a complaint.
“During Durga Puja, as West Bengal celebrates Devi Shakti, women and girls are unsafe. Unless Asuri Shaktis, at the helm of the State’s affair, are not defeated, crimes against women will continue, unabated. Mamata Banerjee has to GO for women to be safe in Bengal,” he tweeted.