The nude body of a girl, who had pleaded with locals not to beat up her father after a kangarroo court rejected his request for more time to pay for a rented tractor, was found lying on the railway track at Dhupguri in West Bengal's Jalpaiguri district, triggering an uproar.
Police said Wednesday the victim's father - a farmer - lodged a complaint of rape, murder and abduction against 13 persons at Dhupguri police station after identifying the body Tuesday.
One person has been arrested and two others detained in connection with the incident, said Jalpaiguri additional superintendent of police, James Kujur.
The body has been sent for post mortem examination to the North Bengal Medical College & Hospital, Kujur said.
The victim's father had rented a tractor. However he could not pay the rent in time. A reconciliation meeting convened Monday night had rejected his request for some more time to make the payment, the police said.
Trinamool Congress councillor of Dhupguri municipality was present at the meeting.
As locals started assaulting the farmer, the girl tried to stop them.
She was taken away from the meeting by a person known to the family. The girl went missing and her body was found Tuesday.
The incident has sparked protests by public with all schools in the area remaining closed following a students strike called by the student and youth wings of the Communist Party of India-Marxist in Dhupguri block Wednesday demanding exemplary punishment to those responsible.
The protestors also observed "black day" and blockaded National Highway 31 that runs through Dhupguri.
The BJP workers held a demonstration at Dhupguri police station Tuesday.
However, district Trinamool Congress president Sourav Chakrabarty said his party believed the girl had committed suicide.
But he demanded an impartial police probe into the circumstances that led to her death.
"We have not tried to influence the police. And I don't think anybody from the Trinamool is involved".
