West Bengal: 22-year-old found dead with slit throat in Shaktigarh; continued atrocities against women spark outrage

On August 15, the body of a young woman with her throat slit was found in Shaktigarh, East Burdwan district, West Bengal, causing widespread panic in the area. The victim has been identified as Priyanka Hansda, aged 22.

The police initiated an investigation by registering a complaint of unnatural death. The body has been sent for a postmortem examination. According to the victim’s family, Priyanka Hansda worked at a retail center in Bengaluru and had returned home for a vacation on August 12. The family also informed the police that Priyanka Hansda left home late Wednesday evening while talking on the phone. She had been missing since then, and her body, with her throat slit, was later discovered. According to district police officials, a thorough investigation has been launched to identify and track down the individuals with whom she was last seen talking on her mobile phone before leaving her home.

The victim’s relatives have told the media that they believe it is a murder case. They reported that Priyanka Hansda left the house after receiving a call from someone, and her body was later found with her throat slit. The family also mentioned that after she did not return home for an extended period, they tried calling her, but she did not answer.

According to district police, statements gathered in the case reveal that the call Priyanka Hansda received before leaving home was from someone she knew well.

This case has garnered significant attention, coinciding with state-wide protests over the brutal death of a junior doctor at Kolkata’s R.G. Kar Medical College and Hospital on August 12. The horrific rape and murder of the female trainee doctor, whose body was found in a ghastly state, has ignited nationwide outrage. Junior doctors have staged protests, ceasing work to demand justice for the victim. The graphic nature of the crime, including severe physical trauma, has intensified scrutiny of the handling of such cases. The Kolkata Police have arrested a suspect, and following a Kolkata High Court ruling, the CBI has taken over the investigation. The disturbing details of this case have raised serious concerns about women’s safety under the current TMC Government. Critics argue that the administration has failed to effectively address violence against women, revealing significant gaps in protection and justice. Public outrage is mounting, with growing calls for systemic reforms to prevent such tragedies and ensure that perpetrators are held accountable swiftly and effectively.