Public prosecutor Manjit Singh pleaded before Justice Asim Ray that shifting of the case was necessary as there was apprehension that lawyers for the accused might not appear at the Barasat court in North 24 Parganas district fearing for their own safety.
Singh submitted that the state government was ready to provide security to 54 witnesses from Kamduni village who would be brought to court under police protection and taken back similarly should the case be shifted to some other location.
Justice Ray fixed the hearing of the matter on July 23.
The victim was brutally gang-raped and murdered at Kamduni village in Barasat area of North 24 Parganas district on July 7 when she was returning home. Her body was found the next morning.
The incident had raised public outcry.