Strongly condemning the alleged torture of a housewife by police in West Bengal's Birbhum district, the BJP, Congress and the CPI-M Monday slammed the Mamata Banerjee government and demanded action against the police officials.
While the BJP sought the intervention of Governor K.N. Tripathi, the Communist Party of India-Marxist, besides approaching the Calcutta High Court, called for protest marches across the state Tuesday.
The woman, who is recuperating in a hospital, alleged that a police team Saturday came looking for her nephew, a local BJP leader wanted for involvement in clashes in Parui.
Police forcibly took her away to a jungle and tortured her to extract information about her nephew, she said.
Besides seeking Tripathi's intervention, Bharatiya Janata Party state president Rahul Sinha also demanded a statement on the issue from Chief Minister Banerjee.
"The way her entire body was slashed and police rubbed nettle leaves on her private parts is a glaring example of not only barbarism of police but is also reflective of the nexus of the Trinamool Congress government and anti-social elements," Sinha said.
Sinha claimed Tripathi has ordered the director general of police to immediately suspend the police personnel involved in the act.
Questioning Banerjee's silence over the matter, Sinha demanded the state government provide a compensation of Rs.10 lakh to the woman and said the party will move the Calcutta High Court over the issue.
"More than 24 hours have passed but she (Banerjee) has not spoken a single word. Does that mean she endorses and supports this heinous act? Her silence is reflective of the anarchy that is prevailing in the name of administration," Sinha said.
A BJP delegation led by party legislator Samik Bhattacharya met the woman's family in Panrui in the district and submitted a memorandum to the police superintendent.
Slamming the government over the rising crime chart, CPI-M state secretary Biman Bose claimed the incident was a reflection of the administration giving patronage to criminals.
He said the party will take out protest marches across the state Tuesday.
CPI-M leader and advocate Bikash Ranjan Bhattacharya during the day approached the Calcutta High Court.
"Often courts take suo motu cognizance in such cases. So I approached the bench of Chief Justice Manjula Chellur which admitted my plea to take suo motu cognizance," Bhattacharya said.
State Congress president Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury too lashed out at the government over the "barbaric incident" and said his party will take out condemnation rallies in the state.
While the woman has named several policemen and a few Trinamool leaders to have assaulted her, the ruling party denied any involvement.
Local Trinamool leader Sheikh Mustafa accused BJP activists of being behind the assault.
