West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on Sunday directed the police to register the alleged rape-murder case of a 10-year-old girl in South 24 Parganas district under the POCSO Act, and ensure that the culprits get capital punishment within three months.
Banerjee, while speaking at the Kolkata Police Body Guard Lines after virtually inaugurating several Durga Pujas, asserted that crime has no colour, caste or religion.
"I want the police to register the Kultuli case under the POCSO Act and ensure that the culprits get capital punishment within three months... Crime is crime; there is no religion or caste. Strong action should be taken against the criminals," the chief minister said.
Taking exception to “media trials” in rape cases, Banerjee said these must stop as it could hamper investigations.
The body of a 10-year-old girl, allegedly raped and murdered, was found at Kultuli in South 24 Parganas on Saturday, after which locals torched a police outpost and vadalised vehicles parked there, a senior officer said.
The accused arrested in the case had been trying to befriend the girl prior to the days leading to the crime, sources told India Today.
Sources even said that the accused has confessed to smothering the victim.
The man had given ice cream to the girl for the past two days and had tried to befriend her, sources said, adding that on Friday evening, the accused gave a lift to the victim on his cycle and took her to an unknown location.
After talking to her classmates, police identified the man who had given her a ride on his bicycle.
The girl's family reported her missing around 8 pm on Friday. Just a few hours later, at approximately 2 am, police arrested the suspect. He subsequently led officers to the location where he had discarded the body after the crime.
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