Minor girl tortured sexually for days, mother clueless about accused

A three-and-a-half-year-old girl who was sexually abused for the past few days was admitted to SSKM hospital with a broken left arm and marks of injury all over her body.

The Purulia district police have started an inquiry into the matter and is interrogating the mother after discrepancies were found in her statement. She could not tell whether the baby was abused in the house or she had been taken to some other place and how many people had tortured her.

The mother had brought the child to a local doctor with the complaint of high fever and nausea on Friday evening. While examining the baby, the doctor found injury marks all over her body including her private parts. This raised suspicion of the doctor who immediately called the police. The baby was taken to Purulia district hospital from where she was referred to SSKM. The police have started an investigation and a hunt is on for the miscreants.

Condemning the hideous crime, Dr Sashi Panja, Minister of State for Women and Child Development and Social Welfare said the baby is undergoing treatment. She assured that the department would provide every assistance.

Ananya Chakraborty, chairperson, West Bengal Child Rights Commission said she had a word with the District Magistrate Purulia. "The incident has shocked everyone. We do not know for how many days the child had been subjected to torture and abuse. She demanded stern action against the persons involved."

Sunanda Mukherjee, chairperson Women's Commission said: "It is really shocking that the mother of the child could not identify the criminals which may be due to fear or for some other compulsion. The act was carried out by some pervert and only a psychologists can tell the motive behind it."

Local people demanded that the criminals should be given exemplary punishment.