Rape survivor, child rescued in Malda

Malda: Police in Malda on Sunday rescued a young woman from Manipur who was allegedly kept confined for four months and repeatedly raped. The woman’s child, who was with her, has also been rescued. No one has yet been arrested.
The rape survivor and her child had accompanied her brother — a silk trader — from Imphal to Kaliachak in Malda prior to the lockdown.The latter’s business partner, one Ariul Sheikh lived in Shersahi under Kaliachak police station, and he would visit him now and again.
However, the partners fell out over money. Thereafter, the man left for Imphal but his sister and her two-year-old daughter were kept confined by Ariul and his associates. For four months, she was sexually assaulted. Finally on Friday, she managed to escape from the house. Locals noticed her roaming aimlessly with her child and took her to the police station where she narrated her ordeal.
Police superintendent Aloke Rajoria said, “We have registered a case The man who had kept her confined forcefully has been identified. We are on the lookout for him. The woman has complained she was sexually assaulted. We have arranged for her medical examination.”
Manipur director general of police LM Khaute said he had spoken to his Bengal counterpart and requested him to monitor the case. “All concerned officers will be informed to cull more details on the reported rape survivor,” the DGP added.
The incident triggered an uproar in political circles with the opposition lashing out at the ruling party over the law and order situation in Bengal.
“This is another example of how women in this state are being tortured. Now a woman of another state has been the victim and police are trying to shield the accused,” alleged BJP leader Ajoy Ganguly. TMC MLA Sabina Yeasmin said, “Police will take action. Offenders will be punished. There is no need to play dirty politics over it.”
Muslim Council Manipur (MCM), however, said it had no information about the incident. “We will try to track down the particulars of the survivor and her family. We will also talk to West Bengal police to take up necessary legal action against the culprits,” MCM president Haji Arafat Ali said.