This Article is From Sep 10, 2013

Kamduni gang-rape and murder case: As charges are framed, protests continue

Kamduni gang-rape and murder case: As charges are framed, protests continue

Over a hundred protesters, unhappy with the slow progress in the case, continue their protests

Kolkata: As charges were framed today in the gang-rape and murder of a 20-year-old girl at Kamduni village near Kolkata on June 7, over a hundred villagers and other activists marched into BBD Bag in the heart of the city, where prohibitory orders are in place. Eleven of them were arrested.

They were protesting the slow pace of the investigation and the police failure to arrest all the accused.

At every hearing of the Kamduni case, villagers and activists would gather outside court.

Today was no different. After the court finished framing charges, over a 100 protestors started a march towards Writers Buildings, which houses the office of Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee's office.

The police swung into action.

"The police started pushing people around. The Kamduni people wouldn't budge. So they started pushing and manhandling. They got aggressive and violent," said a women's rights activist Shottaki, who was part of the march.

Activist and actor, Joyraj, who was among the 11 arrested, said, "It's a kind of state-sponsored terrorism. They are trying to show us terror. "

The victim's brother fainted during the police action and was rushed to hospital. Though those arrested were released within 3 to 4 hours, their frustration remained.

"The Chief Minister, when she went to Kamduni, had promised a lot of things, about punishment being meted out fairly fast. But till date the main accused is still absconding," said Madhura, an activist who had attended the court hearing.

Less than a week after the incident in June, 13 women protesting against the gang-rape and murder of the young girl were arrested near Ms Banerjee's house.

Public anger over the case is unabated. And that Ms Banerjee has not been able to keep her word that the accused would be sentenced within a month of the incident has not helped.
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