Bus stand set ablaze after sexual harassment of 4 tribal women

Local people set a bus stand at Raiganj in North Dinajpur on fire and put up a roadblock on National Highway 34 protesting against the sexual harassment on four tribal women.

The local people had organised a rally in protest of the incident which had taken place on Sunday near the Raiganj bus stand. The women were harassed when they were returning home. Later, two women were rescued from Malda.

The situation turned worse when the rally reached near Raiganj bus stand. A section of people from the rally suddenly started ransacking the bus stand and set it on fire. Several adjacent shops were also set on fire.

Later, they put up a roadblock on National Highway 34 protesting against the incident and it led to a massive traffic congestion.

A large contingent of police went to the spot but could not bring the situation under control and they had to call for backup.

The roadblock was withdrawn after senior police officers intervened and the movement of vehicles on the crucial road connecting North Bengal with the South was restored.

The area bore a deserted look as shutters of all the shops in the area were pulled down soon after the incident. The markets in the area were also closed.

The police had earlier arrested four persons in connection with the incident of sexual harassment. The senior police officers ensured that all necessary steps will be taken so that such incidents do not take place again.

The police are now trying to restore normalcy in the area. Policemen were deployed and there are police pickets posted to avoid further deterioration of the law and order situation.