Bengal govt to support Kamduni gang rape-murder victim's family in SC: Suvendu

Kolkata, Jul 15 (PTI) West Bengal Chief Minister Suvendu Adhikari on Wednesday said his government would cooperate with the Kamduni gang rape and murder victim’s family in the Supreme Court, asserting that efforts would be made so that they get justice for the crime committed 13 years ago during the TMC era. Adhikari made the remarks after meeting the victim's family at the 'Janata Darbar' organised at the BJP office here. Speaking to reporters after the meeting, he stated that the matter was currently pending before the Supreme Court and was not under the direct control of the state government or the police. "The Barasat court had ordered capital punishment in the case. The previous government had transferred 16 public prosecutors so that the accused could be released," Adhikari said. "The family has now moved the Supreme Court, and the matter is subjudice. I have told them that the counsel of the state will cooperate with them so that they get justice through the Supreme Court. We have already given necessary directions to the standing counsel," he added. On June 7, 2013, a college student returning home in North 24 Parganas’ Kamduni was dragged into a farm, gang-raped and murdered. Her mutilated body was found the next morning. The incident had triggered a huge outcry in the state amid concerns over women’s safety. Three years later, a sessions court sentenced three accused to death and three others to life imprisonment in the case. The Calcutta High Court later commuted the death sentences of two to life terms and acquitted a third death-row convict. It had reduced the life sentences of three other convicts. The family members of the Kamduni victim, including her parents and brothers, attended the CM's 'Janata Darbar' programme. They were accompanied by two prominent faces of the protests that followed the incident, Tumpa Koyal and Mousumi Koyal, during the meeting. "The CM has assured us of justice. He said that he has a clear idea of the entire episode," the victim's mother told reporters after meeting Adhikari. "We have suffered a lot since the previous government tried to shield the criminals. We are hopeful that we will get justice now. We think an encounter is the only way to get justice. Encounter should be made the law," the victim's brother said. Adhikari had earlier alleged that the previous TMC government had been "opposing" the Kamduni rape-and-murder victim's family in their pursuit for justice in the Supreme Court, and said his administration would extend a helping hand by providing them with legal assistance. The victim’s family had also alleged that the state failed to place crucial facts before the courts, and the police did not investigate the crime properly. In the aftermath of the Kamduni incident, then chief minister Mamata Banerjee had visited the place and faced protests from locals. She alleged that Maoists were among the protesters, a remark that drew sharp criticism. Meanwhile, Adhikari said that his 'Janata Darbar' initiative has helped address a large number of public grievances received from people. "People come here with lots of expectations. We have already addressed more or less 80 per cent of the complaints received through the five-six 'Janata Darbar' conducted till today. Action Taken Reports have been submitted," he said. "We do not believe in 'dekhna hai, sochna hai' (we'll see and think). We believe in 'karna hai' (we'll act)," Adhikari said, stressing that his government was focused on taking action on complaints. The CM also referred to a meeting with the family members of the victim from Ranaghat in Nadia district in 2021, post-poll violence in West Bengal. "They will get justice. The culprit will not be spared. Before the CBI took over the probe following a court order, the state police tried to dissolve the case," he alleged. Adhikari said he has asked the police officer concerned to reopen the case under sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. PTI SCH BDC NN