Police will face strict action for delay in charge-sheet of rape cases: Mamata

Kolkata: Taking a vocal stand against the recent spate of atrocities against women in the country, Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Friday instructed the police to arrest persons accused in incidents of rape without delay and issue charge-sheets within 3 to 10 days, failing which stern action will be taken against them.

She was addressing a gathering to commemorate the death anniversary of B R Ambedkar, known as Sanhati Divas, on Mayo Road.

"I cannot tolerate atrocities on women. If an unfortunate incident like rape takes place, the police will have to arrest the accused and the charge-sheet will have to be issued within three to 10 days, failing which stern action will be taken against them. We will have to deal with such cases seriously and no lackadaisical attitude will be allowed," she said.

Referring to the incident in Malda where the charred body of a woman was recently recovered, she said: "We have no proof whether she had been raped. However, we are not going to spare anyone and those involved will be punished."

The Chief Minister said that the incidents in Hyderabad

and Unnao have pained her deeply. "Everybody was aware of the Unnao case but despite that how could they try to kill her by setting her ablaze?" she questioned, adding: "The hapless girl had to walk for nearly a kilometer with 90% burn injuries."

Banerjee said after she came to power in 2011, the police had issued charge-sheet within 72 hours in an incident of rape at North Dinajpur. She said there are 85 fast-track courts in the state, of which 45 are being run by women.

Reacting to the alleged police encounter of the four persons accused of the rape and murder of a vet in Hyderabad, she said: "It is not that I should take law in my own hand. The law is that the police will do their duty and present the accused before the court. The judges will perform their duties."

The four accused have reportedly been killed in a police encounter on Friday morning, when they tried to flee. The action of the police has subsequently elicited mixed reaction across the country.

While many people have congratulated the police for such prompt action, others have maintained that the police have not done the right thing by taking the law into their hands.