West Bengal: Tribal teen gang-raped in Malda, mother dies of heart attack

MALDA: A young tribal woman was allegedly abducted and gang-raped while her 16-year-old sister was held hostage and abused at Malda’s Habibpur on Tuesday night. Their mother died of a possible heart attack on Wednesday, soon after the 19-year-old survivor was sent for medical examination and one of her alleged tormentors arrested.
According to police, the sisters were attending a wedding at their village and some youths from a neighbouring village began stalking them on their way home.Two among the youths dragged the elder sister away around 11pm. The others held the younger one hostage till she managed to escape and inform village elders. A search was launched and the survivor found behind a bush. Villagers caught hold of a youth and handed him over to police.
Malda SP Alok Rajoria confirmed the arrest of one Sailen Soren of Gopalnagar village. “We received a gang rape complaint. The IC of Habibpur is leading an inquiry. We have identified all the five accused and one person has already been arrested. He is being interrogated,” Rajoria said, adding that the survivor was being examined at a rural hospital and her sister, who was probably abused, would be counselled.
After her daughters were taken to hospital, the 45-year-old mother complained of chest pain. The local hospital referred her to Malda Medical College, but she died on her way there. Doctors believe she suffered a cardiac arrest.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)