Howrah, West Bengal:
Two women of a family are in a hospital in West Bengal after being allegedly gang-raped by eight men in a village in the Howrah district, neighbouring Kolkata. The alleged assault on Tuesday has taken a political turn as the women are from a family of CPM supporters and the alleged rapists, seven of whom have been arrested, are said to have links with the state's ruling Trinamool Congress.
The police have registered a First Information Report, or FIR. Police sources say the eighth person named in the FIR, Barun Makal, is an election agent of a Trinamool legislator. He is still missing.
The women belong to village Muktirchak that is said to be dominated by CPM supporters. The older woman, who is in her 40s, is the younger woman's husband's aunt. The men of the family had reportedly fled the village about a month ago after a fight with Trinamool supporters.
Late on Tuesday night, the attackers allegedly barged into their house after cutting off power to the village, ransacked it and allegedly took turns raping the women. The younger woman's mother-in-law reportedly sneaked out and ran to a police post about a kilometre away.
According to a neighbour who did not want to disclose her identity, the women were raped brutally. "The victims looked like dogs had attacked them," she said. The victims are now in the Uluberia General Hospital.
Two of the alleged rapists were arrested the same night and they reportedly led the police to five others. "8 men have been named. Plus there are some others un-unnamed in the FIR. 7 have been arrested," said Sanjay Singh, Inspector General of Police
Reacting to allegations that his party supporters were involved, Trinamool Congress MP Mukul Roy said, "Rapists have no colour or caste." Local Trinamool leaders have said the law must take its course, regardless of the political affiliation of the accused. The party, however, has not admitted that the alleged rapists are its supporters.
The CPM claims the Trinamool is trying to terrorise Left supporters. "This is completely political and barbaric, the message the Trinamool Congress is sending is those who have not voted for them will be targeted like this," said Politburo member Brinda Karat.
"In fact, in this village, all the male CPM members had fled and women became soft targets of this barbaric incident," she added. A CPM delegation led by Politburo member Biman Bose will visit the victims on Friday.