In a disturbing case from Kolkata's Dum Dum area, three men have been arrested for allegedly gang-raping a 14-year-old girl who had gone out for tuition on Saturday evening. Police identified the accused as Sanju Saha, Vicky Paswan, and Rajesh Paswan. According to police sources, the girl was at a park near her residence with a friend when the accused, one of whom she knew, approached them. After spending some time there, two more men joined, and the trio forcibly took the victim in an e-rickshaw to a house in Motilal Colony.
The victim was sexually assaulted at the house, but she managed to escape and reached home in a disturbed state late at night. Her parents filed a complaint at the Dum Dum Police Station soon after. The police promptly registered a case under relevant sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, which include charges of gang rape and unlawful confinement.
Sanju Saha has been remanded to five days of police custody while Vicky and Rajesh Paswan received one day of judicial custody. Investigation is ongoing, with officers reviewing CCTV footage and collecting witness statements. Police have assured that the accused will be produced at the Barrackpore court where further custody will be sought.
The incident has sparked indignation and outrage within the local community and prompted a protest by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers outside the Dum Dum police station demanding strict action against the perpetrators. Critics have used the incident to call attention to the deteriorating law and order situation and the urgent need for enhanced women’s safety measures.
This case is among several recent alarming sexual violence incidents in West Bengal, intensifying calls for justice and stronger legal protections for minors and women in the state.
