An unidentified man allegedly kidnapped a four-year-old girl while she was sleeping beside her grandmother and brutally sexually assaulted her near Tarakeswar railway station in West Bengal’s Hooghly district late on Friday night.

Police arrested one person in connection with the case on Sunday morning. The incident has triggered outrage and political blame-trading across the state.

Assailant Took Child From Beside Sleeping Grandmother

Police said the child and her family, who belong to the Banjara community, had been living under a railway shed near Tarakeswar station after losing their homes to demolition. Around 4 a.m. on Friday, the attacker allegedly cut open the mosquito net and took the girl away while she was sleeping beside her grandmother on a cot.

“While she was asleep, someone tore the mosquito net and kidnapped her. Later, we found her in a wounded condition,” the grandmother recounted tearfully, showing the torn net to reporters.

“The child was asleep beside her maternal grandmother under a mosquito net when the accused allegedly cut through it and took her away. After hours of frantic searching, she was found near a drain bleeding, unclothed, with bite marks on her cheek. Despite hours of treatment, she is still bleeding from her genitals,” said Parna Adak, Secretary of the BJP’s Arambagh district.

Locals Found Child Bleeding Near Drain

After a frantic search that lasted several hours, locals found the child near a drain close to the railway station the next afternoon. She lay bleeding, unclothed, and with bite marks on her cheek.

Residents immediately rushed her to the Tarakeswar Rural Hospital. Doctors there provided first aid before referring her to Chandannagar Subdivisional Hospital in a critical condition.

Police registered a case under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and began collecting forensic evidence. “A probe is underway to trace all individuals involved,” a senior Hooghly rural police officer said.

Political Reactions and Allegations of Police Inaction

The case triggered sharp political reactions, particularly from opposition BJP leaders, who accused the police of initially refusing to file an FIR.

In a post on X, Opposition Leader Suvendu Adhikari said that the police were “busy burying the crime”. “This is the True Face of Mamata Banerjee’s free-for-all regime. A child’s life is shattered, yet the Police are shielding the State’s Fake Law & Order Image, by suppressing the truth. Are they Police Officers or Mamata Banerjee’s sycophants?” he asked.

“Mamata Banerjee, you are a Failed Chief Minister. Under your rule, West Bengal’s law & order has hit ROCK BOTTOM. Same script every time: Rape → No/delayed FIR → Hospital referral → Media blackout → TMC leaders cover-up!” he added.

Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar also condemned the incident, calling it “demonic savagery under Mamata Banerjee’s terrifying reign.” “After a long period of abduction, she was rescued in a severely wounded state. But how strange! When the victim’s family went to the local police station to report the rape, the police allegedly turned them away, even refusing to take the complaint, according to the family’s accusation. What kind of West Bengal is this, where a sleeping infant is abducted and raped?” he asked in a post on X written in Bengali.

Responding to the controversy, Tarakeswar MLA Ramendu Singha Roy termed the incident “deeply regrettable” and acknowledged a lapse in security near the railway premises. “The administration is ensuring the child receives the best possible medical care,” he said.

Investigation Continues

The accused, arrested on Sunday, is being interrogated, police said. The victim remains in critical condition. Authorities have assured that stringent action will be taken under the POCSO Act once the investigation concludes.

Long or Short, get news the way you like. No ads. No redirections. Download Newspin and Stay Alert, The CSR Journal Mobile app, for fast, crisp, clean updates!

App Store –  https://apps.apple.com/in/app/newspin/id6746449540

Google Play Store – https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.inventifweb.newspin&pcampaignid=web_share