Dhupguri rape case: Charge-sheet to be presented within three days

Darjeeling: A court in Jalpaiguri on Monday remanded the two accused in the Dhupguri rape case to two-day police custody.

The police also recovered the iron rod that was used to torture the victim from the crime spot.

Anuj Sharma, ADG Law and Order said on Sunday that the police have been asked to present the charge-sheet within three days.

"Ratnu Munda, who is her neighbour and who is known to her, has committed the crime due to personal grudge. Both the victim & the accused are tribal. The victim is under treatment at a hospital & stable. Another person, who was present there but was not a part of the assault, has been arrested. District police has been directed to submit the charge-sheet in 3 days," Sharma said. On Saturday night, a woman in her thirties was raped at Dhupguri in Jalpaiguri and an iron rod inserted in her private parts.

Two persons namely Ratnu Munda and Parimal Rai were arrested by the police on Sunday. The two were produced before a Jalpaiguri Court on Monday. Police prayed for two-day remand which was granted by the Acting Chief Judicial Magistrate.

"In the two-day remand, we will interrogate the two accused and the crime scene will also be reconstructed. We are trying to present the charge-sheet within three days so that custodial trial can commence. Investigation is proceeding in the right direction. We have already interrogated the duo. Munda, who is a neighbour of the victim, had committed the crime in presence of Parimal. We are trying to find out the actual motive behind the crime," stated Amitabha Maity, Superintendent of Police, Jalpaiguri.

Meanwhile, a team of doctors operated on the victim at Jalpaiguri Hospital. Though the surgery has been dubbed successful, the victim is still bleeding internally. Her husband and one-year-old child remained at the hospital premises throughout the night. It is reported that her child is also sick and a local NGO is looking after the child.

The incident had taken place in Niranjanpat area of Magurmari Gram Panchayat.

According to the victim's narration, when she was alone at her house, the two had asked her to accompany them to settle an old land dispute. The duo then took her to the banks of Gilandi River. Munda then tortured her in presence of Parimal. When she lost her senses, the duo fled. In the wee hours of Sunday morning, the victim managed to arrive at the house of a rickshaw puller.

A local NGO had taken the victim, who was in a critical state, to Dhupguri Hospital. She was referred to Jalpaiguri Hospital.

An FIR was lodged and the police recorded her statement following which the arrests were been made. Her husband said there was a land dispute between his family and Munda's family. Police claim that Munda is a history sheeter and was convicted earlier in a rape case.