Woman 'raped' at gunpoint by constable

Malda, February 26: A 37-year-old woman of Malda was allegedly raped at gunpoint by her neighour, a police constable, in October last year. Despite repeated appeals, the police reportedly took no action against the accused. The victim was forced to approach the court which directed police to initiate a case. But the cops chose to violate the court order as well, alleged the victim.

Such an allegation against a policeman has rocked the district administration today. Worse, police were accused of violating court directive on this issue.

The woman has been running from pillar to post for over three months hoping that someday she would get justice. With a series of rape cases being reported of late, the woman mustered courage to go public with her ordeal on Saturday.

The victim, a resident of a locality near English Bazaar police station, Malda, mentioned in her complaint that she was raped by her neighbour Krishna Kamal Das. Das is a police constable posted at Simlipal police station in Bankura. According to the complaint, on October 23, 2011, the victim was alone in her house while her husband, a BSNL employee, had gone for work. In the afternoon, Das, who was on leave, reportedly entered and raped her at gunpoint.

"He even threatened me with dire consequences if I informed about the incident to anyone," said the victim. When the couple reported the incident to their neighbours, they did not get any help. On November 16, hence, the woman filed a complaint at English Bazaar police station through registered post. But, the police did not take any action.

Narrating her ordeal, she said, "I even met the SP. But instead of helping me, he humiliated me and threatened to make my case public." With no assistance from the cops, she finally appealed to court on December 3 last year to get justice.

The victim's lawyer, Humayun Mia said, "We filed a case under 156 (3) CrPC at the to the court of Malda district CJM court. Considering the allegation and the papers we had submitted, the judge directed the police station to start a case in this regard (Memo No 947 dt 08.12.2011). But still the accused policeman was not arrested." The victim said that she would approach the chief minister if she failed to get justice.

Denying the allegations of police inaction, SP Jayanta Pal said that a case was started on this issue, following the court order.

Narayan Chandra Das, father of the accused, and a retired home guard said, "The allegation was totally false. We had a good relation with the lady's family. But now we don't have any contact with them. Now the woman is trying to blackmail us with this false allegation."

On Friday, a woman had made similar allegations against a forest official and had accused the police of sitting on her complaint despite court order.

It may be recalled that similar allegation against a Forest Official yesterday had embarrassed the district administration where the rape victim accused police of sitting idle on the allegation and not arresting the accused despite court order.

37, Rina Kansabanik (original name), a housewife of Chandan Park under English Bazaar Police Station, alleged that one Krishna Kamal Das, her neighbor raped her. Das is a police constable posted at Simlipal Police Station in Bankura. Rina in her complaint claimed that she was raped on 23rd October 2011. On that she was alone at her house at noon as her husband Bapi, a casual worker at BSNL office, was away at his working place. It is alleged that Das, being at home on the leave entered her room and forced her at the gunpoint. "He even threatened me with a dire consequence if I informed of this anyone", Rina said. The couple did not get any justice from their neighbours when they reported of the incident.

On 16th November she filed a complaint to English Bazaar Police Station through registered post. However, police did not take any action. Rina said today, "I even met the Police Super but instead of helping me he also threatened me of my humiliation in case of publicizing this event." Finally, she appealed to court on 3rd December last year for justice.