A National Commission for Women (NCW) team led by Chairperson Lalitha Kumaramangalam Saturday recorded the statement of the woman who was allegedly tortured by policemen in West Bengal's Birbhum district.
The victim, a homemaker, had alleged that a police team accompanied by local Trinamool Congress leaders had forcibly taken her away to a jungle Jan 17 and tortured her to extract information about her nephew, a local BJP leader wanted over his involvement in clashes in Parui in the district.
The police complaint, filed by the victim's family, claimed that her entire body was slashed with blades and nettle leaves rubbed in her private parts.
Describing the incident as "unheard of", Kumaramangalam said she would raise the issue with authorities concerned.
"At least, I have never come across such an incident. We have recorded her statement. No matter what the politics, such an incident should not have happened. Administration or the police, whosoever is responsible... such torture should never have happened," Kumaramangalam said after meeting the victim in Sattore village in the district.
Besides filing a police complaint, the victim has also approached the Calcutta High Court contending that the "act of inserting and rubbing nettle leaves in her private parts tantamount to rape".
Claiming that they have been under constant threat to deter them from seeking legal recourse, the family had expressed their distrust over the issue of the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) taking up the probe Friday.
"We don't have any faith in the CID. When the perpetrators are from the police, how we can expect the CID to act against them. We want the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) to probe it," said the victim's husband.
