West Bengal is in the grip of a shocking crisis in women’s and children’s safety, as a series of brutal sexual assaults—from toddlers to college students—have rocked the state, exposing the dangerous nexus between criminals and political power.
In one of the most horrifying cases to emerge, a 6-year-old girl was raped in Ashoknagar, North 24 Parganas district, after she was lured with food on her way home from school. The accused, Safique Mondal, a local grocery store owner, has been arrested. But what followed has raised even more disturbing questions about the state’s law enforcement and political interference.
When the victim’s family approached the local police, they were allegedly refused a case filing. Only after sustained pressure and local protests was a First Information Report (FIR) registered. Shockingly, Trinamool Congress (TMC) leader Prabir Majumdar, an office-bearer of the Habra 2 Panchayat Samiti, walked into the police station, and the victim’s family has since identified him as the main conspirator behind the assault.
Despite the serious nature of the accusation, no action has been taken against Majumdar, raising chilling concerns about political protection for predators and the erosion of justice for victims, especially minors. This is not an isolated case. In just the past week, West Bengal has seen multiple sexual crimes, underscoring a widening breakdown in women’s security across both urban and rural regions.
- Basirhat: An attempt was made to sexually assault a minor girl on June 25. Police have not disclosed any action taken so far.
- Malda: An 8-year-old girl was raped, triggering local outrage, though authorities have remained tight-lipped about arrests.
- Kolkata (Kasba Law College): A college student was raped inside the campus by a Trinamool Congress leader and his associate, raising further alarms over the impunity enjoyed by politically connected criminals.
These incidents—spanning educational institutions, homes, public spaces, and involving children—cut across age, class, and geography, illustrating a systemic collapse in ensuring the basic safety and dignity of women.
What makes these crimes more disturbing is the apparent political patronage and police apathy that accompany them. In the Ashoknagar case, the police’s initial refusal to file an FIR suggests a deliberate attempt to bury the case. The presence of a TMC leader at the police station, right after the FIR was reluctantly accepted, sends an ominous message to the public about who the system protects.
Local residents have staged protests outside the police station demanding immediate action against Prabir Majumdar and calling for the resignation of officials who failed to act. “The child is broken. The family is devastated. But what scares us most is that powerful people are walking free while victims are silenced,” said a local activist speaking to media.
Women’s rights organisations and opposition leaders have condemned the spate of attacks, accusing the TMC government of failing to ensure women’s safety and of protecting perpetrators linked to the ruling party. Cases like Sandeshkhali, where women alleged sexual exploitation by TMC-linked goons, and now these recent crimes, reflect a pattern of systemic silence and victim-blaming.
“There is a state-sponsored atmosphere of fear and suppression, where criminals know they will be protected if they have the right connections,” said a women’s rights lawyer in Kolkata. “The number of child rape cases being reported is only the tip of the iceberg.”
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