4-year-old abducted and raped near Kolkata; outrage grows
4-year-old abducted and raped near Kolkata; outrage grows
A four-year-old girl sleeping beside her grandmother in Hooghly's Tarakeshwar area was abducted around 4 am and found critically injured the next day; police probe under POCSO launched.
In Hooghly district, near Kolkata, a four-year-old girl was abducted around 4 am while sleeping beside her grandmother when an unknown person cut through a mosquito net on a cot near Tarakeshwar railway shed. The child, who belongs to the Banjara community, was taken away quietly from the spot, according to the family’s account.
She was found the next afternoon lying unconscious near a drain by Tarakeshwar railway station, with injuries, and was rushed to Tarakeshwar Gramin Hospital in a critical condition. She was later referred to a larger facility for specialized care. Police have registered an FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act and launched a probe to identify and arrest the perpetrator.
The family, currently without a stable home after their dwelling was demolished, said they woke to discover the torn mosquito net and the child missing, and that she was later found naked and injured. Community members and officials have asked for information to aid investigators as the search for the attacker continues.
The incident has sparked political commentary, with opposition voices accusing the state government of downplaying the crime and failing to protect vulnerable children. Authorities say they are pursuing every lead to bring the suspect to justice, and appeal to the public for tips that could help in the enquiry.
Cover image source: Girl, 4, sleeping beside grandmother abducted, raped near Kolkata; BJP slams Mamata Banerjee 🔗
